Former Dolphins All-Pro Defensive Tackle Announces Retirement
Ndamukong Suh, the former Miami Dolphins defensive tackle, officially announced his retirement after 13 NFL seasons Saturday morning. Suh wasn’t primarily known for his time in Miami, but made a significant impact with the team, playing alongside Dolphins legend Cameron Wake. The duo tormented AFC East rivals, forming a deadly one-two punch off the line. Outside of Miami, Suh leaves a lasting legacy with the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he won his lone Super Bowl ring.
The Dolphins signed Suh to a six-year, $114 million deal, making him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history at the time. He played well in Miami, averaging 60 tackles and five sacks per season during his three years with the team. Suh earned Pro Bowl recognition in 2016, the same year the Dolphins made the playoffs as an AFC Wild Card team. After just three seasons into his massive contract, the Dolphins cut Suh. The move saved the Dolphins $17 million in cap space for the 2018 season, after Suh was due to have a $26 million cap hit.
Suh wasn’t the only player the Dolphins moved on from in 2018. The organization aimed to spark a "cultural change," also parting ways with high-level playmakers such as Jay Ajayi and Jarvis Landry. Suh's personality and leadership style reportedly clashed with the team’s desired locker room environment, according to Bleacher Report. Suh himself later acknowledged a lack of “emotional intelligence” during that time, which contributed to a divisive atmosphere in the locker room.
After his time in Miami, Suh signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams. During that season, he recorded 59 tackles and four and a half sacks, playing a key role in the Rams’ run to Super Bowl LIII. In 2020, Suh helped the Buccaneers win the Super Bowl over the Kansas City Chiefs, recording one and a half sacks in a dominant defensive performance against Patrick Mahomes. For his final stint, the Super Bowl champion signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, once again reaching the Super Bowl, though they fell short against the Chiefs. The three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler had a decorated career, one that could earn him a spot in Canton, Ohio, when he becomes eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
