Just when you thought loyalty still existed in the NFL… the Miami Dolphins drop a bombshell: they’re releasing Bradley Chubb, the pass rusher who fought back from a gruesome knee injury to lead the team in sacks.
The Gut-Wrenching Fall of a Warrior
Bradley Chubb was supposed to be the cornerstone. Miami traded a first-round pick for him in 2022, then handed him a five-year, $110 million extension. He repaid them with 11 sacks in 2023—until a catastrophic Week 17 injury shredded his ACL, meniscus, and patellar tendon. Doctors doubted he’d ever be the same.
But Chubb defied the odds. He missed all of 2024, rehabbed like a man possessed, and stormed back in 2025 with a team-high 8.5 sacks across all 17 games. He earned captaincy. He won the media’s “Good Guy” award. He was the heart of that defense.
And now? The Dolphins are cutting him loose.
The Brutal Money Move
Chubb’s 2026 cap hit: $31 million. Turning 30 in June with ACL tears in both knees, the new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan decided the risk wasn’t worth it. A pre-June 1 cut saves $7.3 million but eats $23.8 million in dead money. A post-June 1 designation pushes savings to $20.2 million—but either way, Chubb is gone.
What’s Next for Miami?
- Chop Robinson, the 2024 first-rounder, is now the lone proven edge rusher.
- Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill combine for a staggering $108 million cap hit in 2026.
- This is just the first domino in what looks like a full rebuild.
The Real Tragedy
Chubb gave everything—48 career sacks, double-digit seasons, leadership—and gets shown the door the moment his contract becomes inconvenient. It’s the cold reality of the NFL, but it still stings. Fans are furious. Teammates are stunned. And somewhere, Chubb is wondering why his epic comeback wasn’t enough.
Is this the end of the Dolphins’ contender window? Or the ruthless start of something new? One thing’s certain: Bradley Chubb deserved better.
