Former Bills linebacker cut after career-high 129 tackles with Dolphins

Tyrel Dodson just had the best season of his NFL career.

Now the former Buffalo Bills linebacker is looking for a job.

The Miami Dolphins are releasing Dodson despite the 28-year-old starting 16 games last season and recording career highs of 129 tackles and five sacks along with an interception and fumble recovery.

The move comes one year after Miami re-signed Dodson to a two-year, $8.25 million contract.

Dodson began his NFL career with Buffalo, signing with the Bills as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M in 2019.

Dodson spent five years with the Bills, appearing in 59 games with 15 starts. He competed with Terrel Bernard for the starting middle linebacker job in 2023 before Bernard won the role, but Dodson eventually started 10 games after Matt Milano suffered a season-ending leg injury.

Dodson finished that season with 74 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Pro Football Focus named him the Bills' most improved player and gave him a 90.2 grade, best among NFL linebackers.

Dodson left Buffalo in free agency and signed with Seattle in 2024. The Seahawks surprisingly released him midway through that season despite Dodson starting all nine games and leading the team with 71 tackles.

Miami claimed him off waivers the next day.

Dodson made an immediate impact for the Dolphins, recording three interceptions in eight games to finish the 2024 season. He had 15 tackles and an interception against Cleveland in Week 17 and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

That performance helped earn Dodson another contract with Miami, and he followed it with his most productive NFL season in 2025. He finished second on the Dolphins in tackles and third in sacks.

Dodson has now been released twice in less than two years despite being a productive starter both times.