Miami Dolphins' DT Zach Sieler caps 'incredible journey' to AFC honor

[CF DolFan]

In case you didn't see it, Sieler was named AFC Defensive Player of the week against the Jets. He's been one of my favorites since he came here. I even bought the throw back (alternate) jersey of his. I swear he and AVG made plays whenever given the chance. I love those kind of stories.  Hopefully the team recognizes he is underpaid and gives him a bump and extension. Congrats to him and his wife Hannah!

Hal Habib wrote a nice article about him and I thought I would share.



Hal Habib
Palm Beach Post

MIAMI GARDENS — Zach Sieler can tell you what he was doing five years ago almost to the day. It had nothing to do with football because Sieler wasn’t sure if football wanted anything to do with him.

“Really didn’t know what to think,” he said.

Sieler knew what the best use of his time was.

“My brakes were shot, so I pulled the pads and all that off the RV,” he said.

Fast-forward those five years, then pump the brakes. Zach Sieler, mechanic, is no more, unless you’re thinking of him as the defensive tackle who can help fix the Miami Dolphins’ season.

Wednesday, he was named AFC defensive player of the week for his performance in Sunday’s 32-26 overtime victory over the New York Jets. It was his first such honor.

“Honestly, it’s really incredible to be blessed with this award,” he said. “My wife and I were just talking about it. So it was this time five years ago when I was released from Baltimore.”

Call it the Dolphins’ reward for being in the throes of a 5-11 season, since waiver claims are filled in inverse order of records.

Call it a stroke of luck or a stroke of genius.

Call it whatever you like, but just know Sieler is in the conversation of the best waiver-wire pickups in Dolphins history.

“One of the cooler players I've ever had the opportunity to coach, quite honestly,” Mike McDaniel said.

Sieler made the rare leap of a waiver pickup who not only received an extension, but one worth $30.7 million. He had a special fondness for that RV he’d been living in, but he knew with that kind of payday, he probably could afford a home.

“Earned it every week and then some,” McDaniel said of the extension.

McDaniel is onto something when he labels Sieler a bargain even now. Nine years ago, the Dolphins handed another defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh, a six-year, $114 million deal. Suh did OK as a Dolphin but never offered the return Sieler has.

Sieler leads the Dolphins this season with six sacks. He leads Miami’s defensive linemen with 39 tackles. A testament to his consistency: He has at least one tackle in 78 consecutive games, the second-longest active streak by NFL defensive linemen. He’s making a strong case for his first Pro Bowl.

“The coaches that I talked to after games think so,” McDaniel said. “I think Zach Sieler represents a lot of things that I firmly believe in. He’s a player that far after he gets done playing, he will serve as an example for the next 20 rookie classes of perseverance and what you can do if you just refuse to give up and attack adversity.”

He’s a player who’s at his best when the Dolphins require nothing less — not just making plays, but making plays that change games. His first hit on quarterback Aaron Rodgers came on a third-down play late in the first half, forcing the Jets to settle for a field goal. His first sack also came on third down and led to a fourth-quarter punt. His second sack forced the Jets to settle for another field goal, helping Miami rally.

They’re the kind of plays that grab the attention of Pro Bowl voters.

“It would be a huge thing,” Sieler said of possibly making his first Pro Bowl. Reflecting on being a seventh-round pick by the Ravens out of Ferris State, he added, “To me, just to be able to come from where I came from, and just from walking on D-2, cut twice in the NFL, to have even a chance to make it is just an incredible journey.”

Sieler is the pro football player you could still picture grabbing his wrench in the offseason and replacing the brake pads on his truck. His bank account says he’s a millionaire even if the way he carries himself says anything but.

What’s he most proud of?

“I want to make sure I teach my son that it's the name on your back as well as the name on your front,” he said. “It's you represent an organization as well as your family name. And then, honestly, everything else is it's all glory to God. So to be able to go out there and to emulate that and to show that, and hopefully it shows in my game and in how I act on and off the field, to me that's what I pride myself on the most.”

That and going from the unwanted guy to the best defensive player in the AFC for at least a week.

“It’s been a special journey,” he said.

Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal. Click here to subscribe.

[masterfins]

Glad to see Sieler is still getting it done after the defensive losses of Wilkins and Van Ginkel.  Miami better pay him!

[Spider-Dan]

MIA already paid him; he is signed through 2027.

[masterfins]

MIA already paid him; he is signed through 2027.

No, Not Really. He signed a 3 year extension for 24,25, & 26, but only 24 & 25 are guaranteed money.  He's not playing in 2026 without a guaranteed contract, and his agent will probably start pushing for a new contract next year, not that he'll get it.

[Spider-Dan]

He's not playing in 2026 without a guaranteed contract

This isn't really a thing non-QBs can do in this league.
Christian Wilkins couldn't do it, for example; he played out his contract.

[CF DolFan]

This isn't really a thing non-QBs can do in this league.
Christian Wilkins couldn't do it, for example; he played out his contract.

He was nice about it. Many players aren't and I hope Zach won't because he is underpaid as it is. I'm sure Conner Williams regrets giving in and playing his last season with us. It cost him many millions.