Clark’s testimonial to Dolphins’ Sieler. And Clark on Grant, other D-linemen
Dolphins defensive line coach Austin Clark, the second longest-tenured position coach on the staff (behind running backs coach Eric Studesville), on Monday had the look of a beaming father proud of his children.
Or, in Clark’s case, a beaming older brother because he is, after all, only 35.
He’s proud not only of his young linemen, led by first round pick Kenneth Grant, but
also Zach Sieler, whose excellence and professionalism led to a three-year, $67.7 million contract extension that he signed on Monday, a deal that runs through 2029. The deal includes $44 million guaranteed.
Clark gave a long testimonial to Sieler on Monday. (More on that in a minute.)
He also offered an encouraging early report on Grant, who was the 13th overall pick in April’s NFL Draft:
“I think KG’s doing a good job so far,” Clark said. “He’s working himself into shape. I think he works extremely hard. Very smart player. I would say that’s the thing that’s impressive. He’s learning multiple spots. Pleased where he’s at, but he knows we’ve got a long way to go.”
Defensive line seemed like a concern after Calais Campbell’s departure to Arizona, but Clark said: “I would say in my time here, this is kind of the deepest unit where you really feel like, all right, we have nine guys in the room, like all these guys have an opportunity to make it.
“And I think when you have the unique mix of rookies that we’ve invested in, which we’ve got four of them [Grant, Jordan Phillips, Zeek Biggers, Alex Huntley], and then you have the veterans. I use [former Dolphins and current Chargers lineman] Da’Shawn Hand as an example. They’re kind of in that mold to me. Like, ‘OK maybe they didn’t really get a fair shake somewhere else.’”
One of those veterans, Matt Dickerson, has had an excellent camp.
“He’s an early down player that can grow into other roles, but that can be solid for us at multiple spots,” Clark said. “Matt’s strength is his competitiveness and his effort. Like bar none, he’s a physical player at the point of attack that is high motor.”
As for Sieler, allow Clark to explain why he’s so proud of him:
“When you get to coach a guy for going on six years, and you watch him go from where he started to where he’s at now, his work ethic, the type of leader he’s become from where he started is remarkable.
“The way we want you to play within the scheme, how to carry yourself as a professional, be a good husband, father, like the guy is the total package. I’m so really fired up for Zach and [wife] Hannah and [son] Stetson. The guy earned it the hard way.
“This isn’t a guy that the meeting starts at 8, he’s in the building at 7:58. Like, no, this guy’s getting there early, he already has his breakfast, he reviews on his own, the meeting starts, he’s asking questions, he’s attentive.
“This guy is the same guy he was when I met him in 2020 living in an RV fighting to become the fifth guy on the roster. And it hasn’t changed and I’m telling you right now in full confidence it’ll never change. That’s who he is. I can’t say enough great things about him. And as a father now to a son, that’s the type of guy you want your son to grow up to be like because of how he works.
“He’s the only guy with back-to-back 10 sack seasons. I don’t know how that happens. And I don’t think he’s destined for that. I think where he’s at in his career, his technique and fundamentals have come on in kind of the middle of his pro football career. There’s a lot of players with his length and size that play the game the right way and play for a long time, and I think this guy is gonna play for a long time.”
Clark appreciates how Sieler will “chime in” with suggestions and thoughts during meetings.
“At the end of the day,” Clark said, “the Zach Sieler story is: you work your tail off, you show up every day and you’ll get rewarded. And that to me is what it’s all about.”
This story was originally published August 4, 2025 at 7:33 PM.
