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Revisiting Ndamukong Suh’s Time in Miami

Originally posted on Dolphins Talk | By Brian Marr | Last updated Jul 15, 2025 9:44 PM ET

Revisiting Ndamukong Suh’s Time in Miami

For 13 seasons, the name Ndamukong Suh struck fear in the hearts of opposing fans and players alike. A future Hall of Famer with an at times questionable reputation for stepping over the line from hard-nosed to dirty player. A former second overall pick who would go on to be the NFL defensive rookie of the year, a 3x First Team All-Pro, a 2x Second Team All-Pro, a 5x Pro Bowler, and a Super Bowl champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Most importantly to me as a Miami Dolphin fan and blogger, he’s one of the few free agent signings over the past twenty years that I actually look back on fondly.

Lately, in the lead-up to training camp, I’ve been chronicling some of the most disappointing moves the Dolphins have made since I’ve been a fan. This includes the trade for David Boston and the signing of Mike Wallace, who never lived up to the massive contract Miami gave him.

While it is tempting to only cover the lows, I always knew that I would write about Suh as a counterbalance to the negativity. Given that he has officially announced his retirement after 13 seasons, I think this is the perfect time to reminisce.

As I stated above, Suh was drafted with the second overall pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2010 NFL draft. Suh was an absolute athletic freak during his time in college, recording 12 sacks his senior year and finishing fourth in the Heisman Race as a defensive tackle.

The hype surrounding him coming into that draft was unreal, with many experts slotting him in as the number 1 overall pick, which eventually would be used on quarterback Sam Bradford.

One, I believe the Rams wish they could have back; imagine a defensive line with Suh and Aaron Donald on it – it would be impossible to run on.

During his time on the Detroit Lions, he lived up to the hype, but concerns swirled around his character. Suh would be fined early and often in his career for extracurricular activity, most notably, he stomped on a Packer’s offensive linemen Evan Dietrich-Smith and kicked Houston’s quarterback Matt Schaub in the groin.

He was fined $100,000 for a low block on the Vikings’ center John Sullivan, the largest fine in NFL history for an on-field infraction. It is a credit to how good Suh was on the field that teams were willing to put up with his actions. In 2015, he became a free agent, and the Miami Dolphins signed him to a 6-year $114 million contract with $60 million guaranteed.

Suh brought a toughness to the Dolphins that they often lack. Paired with Dolphins legend Cameron Wake, the duo would go on to have some of the most productive seasons of their careers. Suh recorded 15.5 sacks in his three seasons with Miami, and Wake had 29 in only 39 games.

The defensive line was something that opponents feared; it was what the team was trying to recreate now with Zach Sieler, Kenneth Grant, Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, and Chop Robinson. The duo’s tenure was punctuated by Suh and Wake meeting at the quarterback on a pass attempt by the Jets’ Bryce Petty. An enduring image in the Dolphins fan community, and one that happened during a season where Miami actually made a playoff appearance. The high point of the Adam Gase experience.

When you’re a Miami Dolphins fan, you become used to mediocrity, disappointing trades, and signings. So when a free agent signing actually pays off and the team makes the playoffs, you tend to remember it fondly. That’s why I have such reverence for Suh and his time with the Dolphins and can’t wait to see him inducted into Canton.

You can follow me on YouTube @WickedGoodSports and X @TheFakeBMarr

This article first appeared on Dolphins Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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