Dolphins to release 2-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Bradley Chubb, reports say

C. Isaiah Smalls II, Miami Herald on Feb 16, 2026

Published in Football

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

MIAMI — Bradley Chubb won’t return to the Miami Dolphins come 2026.

First reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the franchise released the star edge rusher on Monday, bringing to end a three-year stint in Miami that saw Chubb suffer a gruesome knee injury only to return two seasons later and be one of the team’s most valued voices in the locker room.

The move represents the first big transaction during the tenure of the newly installed pairing of coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. This, however, was likely going to happen regardless of who was in power as Chubb had a $31 million cap hit for the 2026 season.

During his time in Miami, Chubb accumulated 22 sacks, nine forced fumbles and 133 combined tackles.

Chubb initially arrived in Miami via trade in 2022. It was the first year of coach Mike McDaniel, and the Dolphins believed Chubb’s presence could help strengthen a defensive front that already featured Zach Sieler and Christian Wilkins on the interior as well as Jaelan Phillips on the edge.

And initially, it worked. Chubb played the final eight games of the season, racking up 2 1/2 sacks, 13 combined tackles and 12 quarterback hits with the Dolphins en route to his second Pro Bowl appearance. When the playoffs hit, the Dolphins had to play backup quarterback Skylar Thompson against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. Miami kept it close, losing 34-31, yet the future appeared bright, especially for Chubb who finished with a sack and a forced fumble.

Then came 2023. Initially, the season started out great. Chubb started all 16 games that year and was amid arguably the best season of his life. He had the double-digit sacks (11), a league-leading number of forced fumbles (six) and a career-high combined tackles (73).

In one moment, everything changed. The 2018 first-round pick tore his anterior cruciate ligament, patella tendon and meniscus in his right knee playing late in the fourth quarter of a Dec. 31 Week 17 lopsided loss to Baltimore. Chubb would later call the ordeal the most challenging setback of his life.

“Seeing from when I was there to where I am now is nothing short of a blessing,” Chubb said in December 2024, his only public comments that calendar year. “I’m chopping wood and carrying water every day, continuing to have a positive mind-set.”

Chubb would spend the entire 2024 season on injured reserve. It was a challenging decision yet one ultimately influenced by whether Chubb would return to his standard despite the Dolphins opening his 21-day practice window in Dec. 2024.

“Bradley takes that serious and has gone after the whole process so he can be Bradley Chubb for this team,” McDaniel said at the time. “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?”

Added McDaniel: “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.”

Chubb finally returned in 2025, even snagging a sack in each of his three games back. He finished the season with 8.5 sacks, 47 total tackles and 20 quarterback hits.

“I’ve been through it all, and I’ve matured,” Chubb said in December 2025 when reflecting on his journey, later adding his growth has “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.”

Not only did Chubb represent the Dolphins as a finalist for the Walter Payton Man of the Year, he won the South Florida local media’s Good Guy Award, which is presented to the most approachable and professional player 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. Don’t want to be stepping on eggshells around each other, trying to make a story out of nothing or whatever the case is and just make sure that y’all are reporting the things that y’all see, and we’ll give you all everything we can.”

At just 29 years old, Chubb still has more than his fair share of years left to make an impact on any team. The only question that is where.

____