Linebacker Shaquil Barrett didn’t wait too long to find his next landing spot after being released by the Miami Dolphins. Barrett signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, reuniting with the franchise for which he already played between 2019 and 2023.
The Bucs confirmed Barrett’s signing via post on social media.
Barrett signed a one-year, $9 million deal with the Dolphins in the offseason but never actually suited up for the team. He decided to retire just a few days before the start of training camp, citing his wish to spend more time with his family.
Earlier in December, Barrett changed his mind and announced he was coming out of retirement. But since the Dolphins were not counting on him at that point, they opted to waive him and allow him to sign with another team.
Barrett is now returning to a place where he played his best football. In his first season with the franchise, in 2019, he managed a league leading 19.5 sacks and earned a Second-team All-Pro nod. He then helped Tampa Bay win Super Bowl LV in the following season and produced a Pro Bowl campaign in 2021.
However, Barrett’s production has significantly declined in recent years. He managed only 4.5 sacks last season despite playing 16 games, prompting the Bucs to release him as part of salary-cap gymnastics.
The Buccaneers will now hope Barrett can rediscover some of his old magic and help them clinch a spot in the playoffs in the last two games of the regular season. The Bucs are currently 8-7 and find themselves second in the NFC South, behind the Atlanta Falcons. In order to claim the division, they need to win out, while the Falcons need to lose at least one game.
