Omar Kelly: Bradley Chubb has millions on the line in Dolphins' final two games

Omar Kelly, Miami Herald on Dec 27, 2025

Published in Football

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MIAMI — Bradly Chubb suggests every Miami Dolphins player struggling to find their motivation for the final two games, searching for their reason to not mail it in for the final two meaningless games of 2025 to look his way.

Keeping his eight-year career, his struggles, his injuries, his resurgence, and most importantly, his paycheck in mind before concluding Sunday’s 1 p.m. game against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team still fighting for an NFC postseason spot has no meaning, and purpose.

Two years ago, in a supposedly meaningless fourth-quarter snap of a 56-19 blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Dolphins’ top pass rusher ruptured his ACL, meniscus and patella tendon in his right knee.

A year ago — last December — Chubb had practiced with his teammates for three weeks hoping to return to the football field. While healthier, the surgically repaired knee wouldn’t allow the eight-year veteran to play to his full potential, so he was placed back on injured reserve, and his return was put on ice until 2025.

Fast forward to this December, where Chubb has been one of Miami’s most consistent defenders. He’s also stepped up as a leader, was named the Dolphins’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee for the community work he does, and is pushing to finish the 2025 season strong.

But don’t just follow his words.

Replicate his actions and efforts. Then you’ll likely be in a good spot.

“He is a man’s man,” defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said. “Someone who comes in every day, just puts in the work.”

This season Chubb, 29, silenced most of his critics, and extinguished the doubts that surfaced, which included his own, and labored to re-establish himself as a pass rushing force.

And that’s important, especially as players age, because teams like the Dolphins seize on shaking down injured, or underperforming talent.

Dolphins’ organization shook Chubb down this offseason, forcing him to take a drastic pay cut, and re-wrote a contract that was healthy-incentive based. And wouldn’t you know, how the Dolphins’ defense performs in these final two games will decide whether Chubb makes an extra $4.8 million this season.

If the Dolphins’ defense finishes this season ranked among the NFL’s top 20 defense in points allowed, with Chubb’s existing playing time percentage, and his sack production, he’d earn an extra $4.8 million because he’s played 78% of Miami’s defensive snaps, and already has six sacks on the season.

Another two sacks would allow Chubb to make an additional $900,000, but that is all contingent on how the Dolphins, which are presently ranked 22nd in scoring defense, perform.

Miami is allowing 24.6 points per game to opposing offenses.

“Still work to do, still goals to accomplish,” said Chubb, whose 2025 salary was trimmed from $19.5 million to $11.9 million (only if he plays in all games). “I was telling people earlier, I didn’t play at all last year and being able to be back on this field, I don’t take [anything] or granted, no matter if we’re playing for the Super Bowl, or playing for nothing.

“We’re playing for something, playing for each other.”

And in Chubb’s case, he’s playing for a ton of money, and his NFL future.

But money isn’t the only thing that drives this two-time Pro Bowl selection, a former North Carolina State standout who was taken fifth overall in the 2018 NFL draft.

“Physically I’ve proved that I’m relentless. No matter what I’ve been through, or go through I’m always going to bounce back,” said Chubb, who has contributed 43 tackles, a team leading 6.5 sacks and 16 quarterback hits, and has forced and recovered one fumble. “I’m going to be a better version of myself each and every time.”

The Dolphins are obviously counting on that.