The Miami Dolphins signed veteran pass rusher Shaquil Barrett to a one-year deal earlier this year, but he informed the team ahead of training camp that he won’t suit up in aqua and orange after all.
Barrett announced Saturday that he has opted to retire from the NFL to spend more time with his family.
Barrett, 31, began his career with the Denver Broncos, earning a spot on the team as an undrafted free agent. While he recorded 14 sacks in four seasons with the team, his career soared after he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019.
He racked up a league-leading 19.5 sacks in his first season with Tampa Bay and earned two trips to the Pro Bowl with the team. While an Achilles tear hampered his production late in his tenure, Barrett still managed to rack up 45 sacks in five seasons.
In May 2023, tragedy struck the Barrett family when his 2-year-old daughter drowned in a backyard pool.