Linebacker Shaquil Barrett dropped some bombshell news on the Miami Dolphins on Saturday, informing the team that he is retiring to spend more time with his family. The surprising development was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Barrett, 31, explained his decision on social media.
“It’s time for me to hang it up,” Barrett posted. “It’s been a great ride and I appreciate everything that came with it over the years. I’m ready to shift my full focus to my wife and kids and helping them realize [their] dreams and catch ’em.”
“[I know] to some it’ll be a surprise,” he added. “But I’ve been thinking about this for a while and the decision has never been more clear than it is now.”
Barrett signed a one-year, $9 million deal with the Dolphins as a free agent this offseason after being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in February. He was due to be paid a $15.04 million option bonus if the Bucs hadn’t cut him before the new league year began in March. Miami signed him two weeks later.
The Dolphins are left in a tough spot with their pass rushers in light of Barrett’s retirement. Jaelan Phillips is recovering from an Achilles injury, while Bradley Chubb is working his way back from a torn ACL. Both players could return during the 2024 season, but likely wouldn’t do so until later in the year. Miami released Emmanuel Ogbah in February and Andrew Van Ginkel left for the Minnesota Vikings in free agency.
Veteran LB Shaquil Barrett announced his retirement from the NFL.
The Baltimore, Maryland native enjoyed his best years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, playing a key role in their 2020 Super Bowl-winning team.
Here are highlights from his 2019 All-Pro and Pro Bowl season.… pic.twitter.com/xQhHV4IANo
— Four Verts 🏈 (@FourVerticals_) July 20, 2024
In his five seasons with the Bucs, Barrett was named to two Pro Bowls, played on four playoff teams and won Super Bowl LV (2021) in Tampa Bay’s home stadium. During the 2020 postseason, he had three sacks against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship and added one more versus the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Barrett led the NFL with 19 1/2 sacks in 2019, adding 58 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 37 quarterback hits. He reached double-digit sacks in one more season, compiling 10 in 2021.
An undrafted free agent out of Colorado State (where he won Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year in 2013), Barrett began his NFL career with the Denver Broncos. He played four seasons in Denver, winning Super Bowl 50 (2016). He had 14 sacks with Denver, but became an explosive pass rusher with the Buccaneers.
