Miami Dolphins make crucial decision on Shaquil Barrett’s NFL future

The Miami Dolphins have reached a decision on linebacker Shaquil Barrett, opting against activating him off the reserve/retired list and thus closing the door on the veteran playing for them this season.

The Dolphins faced a 4 p.m. deadline on Thursday to move Barrett from the reserve/retired list to the active roster.

Miami has also seemingly decided that it won’t release the two-time Pro Bowler, meaning he won’t be able to sign with another team amid the NFL playoff race.

Barrett signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in the offseason, but he announced his retirement from football over the summer. Because of league rules, a player can’t retire and then become a free agent at the end of the season. That means that the Dolphins still own his rights for the 2025 campaign.

The idea of Barrett coming out of retirement gained steam this week when it was revealed that he was applying for reinstatement.

Another report indicated that Barrett was willing to play for the Dolphins in his return.

That development might have caught some people by surprise, especially because Barrett said a few months back that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the only team he’d consider coming out of retirement for.

In the end, it doesn’t appear that the two-time Super Bowl champion will be able to play in the NFL this season. His situation next season will be worth monitoring.

Barrett has been through a lot in his personal life. He had a two-year-old daughter who tragically died after she drowned in April of 2023. When he retired, he cited wanting to shift his focus to his family.

It now seems as though he still has an itch to get back on the field, but it evidently isn’t going to happen this season.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins are trying to continue their resurgence this season after a 2-6 start. They’ve clawed their way back to a 5-6 record and will have a chance to get back to .500 when they take on the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving.