Finally, the career path of Jason Pierre-Paul is coming full circle. He’s signing with the Dolphins, a team that’s about a half-hour’s drive from where he grew up in south Florida.
Paul, who has won two Super Bowl rings and earned spots in three Pro Bowls, was out of football for most of this season. But in his 14th season in the NFL, he finally landed with the Saints a week before Thanksgiving. And now he’s signing with the Dolphins.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network first reported the switch of teams Monday night. Then Pierre-Paul confirmed the news on his Instagram.
“I would like to thank the New Orleans Saints and the organization for giving me the opportunity to play for them,” Pierre-Paul wrote. “I can’t even lie it was a hard decision to make, to all the guys in the locker room I appreciate y’all accepting me as a teammate and to all the coaches appreciate you guys for believing in me. I’M COMING HOME.” And he punctuated his comments with a dolphins emoji.
Dolphins need pass rusher after losing Jaelan Phillips
The Dolphins are in need of an edge rusher. The team lost one of its best when Jaelan Phillips suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in a Black Friday matchup against the Jets. The Dolphins selected Phillips, a former Miami Hurricane star, in the first round of the 2021 Draft. He’d registered 43 tackles and 6.5 sacks this fall before the injury..
Meanwhile, Pierre-Paul played in last weekend’s Saints games against the Falcons. his first game of the fall. New Orleans had activated him from the active roster for the game. Pierre-Paul made two tackles in his 17 defensive snaps. But the Saints then placed him back on the practice squad.
Pierre-Paul is 34. And southern Florida is home. He starred for the South Florida Bulls before getting drafted by the Giants in the first round of 2010. He won a Super Bowl in NYC. By 2020, he signed with the Tampa Bay Bucs, where he earned his second ring. Pierre-Paul dealt with a shoulder injury for much of 2021. By 2022, he signed with the Ravens. And in 2023, he had no team until the Saints signed him to a practice squad spot.
Pierre-Paul grew up in Deerfield Beach, which isn’t that far away from Miami Gardens, where the Dolphins play their football.
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