The Miami Dolphins have officially parted ways with two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Bradley Chubb, marking a significant turning point for the franchise as it heads into a new era under head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. The move, confirmed on February 16, 2026, comes nearly four years after Miami acquired Chubb in a blockbuster trade with the Denver Broncos during the 2022 season. For Dolphins fans, it’s the end of a chapter filled with both hope and heartbreak, as Chubb’s journey in South Florida was defined by flashes of brilliance, a devastating injury, and a determined comeback.
Chubb, who turns 30 in June, arrived in Miami as part of an aggressive push by then-head coach Mike McDaniel to bolster the Dolphins’ defensive front. The midseason deal sent Miami’s first-round pick, a future fourth-round pick, and running back Chase Edmonds to Denver, with the Dolphins receiving Chubb and a fifth-rounder in return. That first-round pick would later be flipped by the Broncos to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for head coach Sean Payton, adding another layer of intrigue to the trade’s legacy.
Upon his arrival, Chubb wasted little time making an impact. In his first eight games with the Dolphins at the tail end of 2022, he notched 2.5 sacks, 13 combined tackles, and 12 quarterback hits, earning his second career Pro Bowl selection. The Dolphins’ defensive front, featuring the likes of Zach Sieler, Christian Wilkins, and Jaelan Phillips, looked formidable, and Miami managed to clinch a playoff berth. Even in a narrow 34-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills—a game started by backup quarterback Skylar Thompson—Chubb made his presence felt, recording a sack and a forced fumble.
The 2023 season saw Chubb reach new heights. Starting all 16 games, he racked up 73 combined tackles, 11 sacks, 22 quarterback hits, and a league-leading six forced fumbles. It was, by all accounts, the best campaign of his career and a testament to the Dolphins’ vision when they traded for him. But fate intervened in the worst way possible. In Week 17, during a lopsided loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Chubb suffered a catastrophic knee injury—tearing his ACL, patella tendon, and meniscus in his right knee. The injury was a gut punch for both player and franchise, abruptly ending his season and casting a shadow over his future.
Chubb would later describe the ordeal as the most challenging setback of his life. As he told reporters in December 2024, “Seeing from when I was there to where I am now is nothing short of a blessing. I’m chopping wood and carrying water every day, continuing to have a positive mind-set.” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel added at the time, “Bradley takes that serious and has gone after the whole process so he can be Bradley Chubb for this team. He’s been patient through this process. Ultimately, we all decided we didn’t think he would be able to be the player he expects, we all expect. We need a little bit more time that unfortunately the season couldn’t offer us. When he’s on the field, everyone [will know] the player he is. Bradley Chubb wants to play football. Can he play to his standards?”
Chubb spent the entire 2024 season on injured reserve, but his resolve never wavered. The Dolphins opened his 21-day practice window late in the year, but the consensus was that more recovery time was needed. “He has a little longer to build to get to his standard of execution. It was a little unknown when he first started [the practice window]. It wasn’t a failure or setback; it was just the nature of the injury,” McDaniel explained.
When Chubb returned in 2025, he proved he still had plenty left in the tank. He played all 17 games, tallying 47 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 20 quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles—leading the team in sacks and demonstrating the same relentless motor that made him a coveted pass rusher. Chubb’s leadership off the field was just as important as his production on it. He was a finalist for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award and earned the South Florida local media’s Good Guy Award, which recognizes professionalism and approachability in the locker room. “I just try to be as respectful as I can because y’all are always respectful to me and my teammates as well,” Chubb said of his relationship with the media. “It’s a relationship that you have to have and since we have to have it, might as well make it a good one.”
Despite his resurgence, Chubb’s future in Miami was clouded by financial realities. After restructuring his contract last offseason, his cap hit for 2026 ballooned to more than $31 million, with similar figures for 2027. Releasing him now saves the Dolphins $7.3 million in 2026 cap space but leaves a dead money charge of nearly $24 million unless he’s designated as a post–June 1 cut, in which case the dead cap is spread over two years. The decision was widely expected, especially as the Dolphins embark on a sweeping rebuild—trading away Jaelan Phillips and Jalen Ramsey, and now releasing Chubb, Tyreek Hill, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and James Daniels to clear over $56 million in cap space.
Chubb’s Miami tenure closes with 22 sacks, 54 quarterback hits, nine forced fumbles, and 133 combined tackles in 41 games. Across his entire NFL career, which began as the fifth overall pick by Denver in 2018, he’s amassed 48 sacks in 90 games and has been a disruptive force whenever healthy. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, “Teams are expected to be interested in the two-time Pro Bowler before the start of free agency.” Chubb himself reflected on his journey, saying, “I’ve been through it all, and I’ve matured. It’s been beautiful to see. It’s one of those things that I’m glad it happened to me. Two years ago, it’s hard to say, ‘I’m glad this happened,’ while I’m sitting on the cart getting carted off, but you look back on it now, and it’s a positive, bright spot in your life instead of a dark time.”
For the Dolphins, the release of Chubb is just one of many moves as they reshape their roster and look to the future. With the No. 11 pick in the upcoming draft and significant cap flexibility, Miami’s front office has plenty of options—though questions remain, especially at quarterback, where Tua Tagovailoa’s future is under the microscope after being benched for rookie Quinn Ewers late last season.
As Chubb enters free agency, he does so with a reputation for resilience, leadership, and a proven ability to disrupt opposing offenses. The only question now is which team will seize the opportunity to add a veteran pass rusher with plenty of gas left in the tank. For Miami, it’s a bittersweet farewell to a player who gave everything he had—on and off the field.