Dolphins’ defense close to delivering Bradley Chubb nearly $5.2 million in incentives
The Bradley Chubb incentive pot has grown to nearly $5.2 million if the Miami Dolphins defense finishes amongst the NFL’s top 2 defenses in points allowed, and tonight’s nationally televised game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Atlanta Falcons could become a major factor.
Chubb, who recorded three tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in Miami’s 20-17 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, gained another $900,000 in possible bonuses for achieving eight or more sacks. But all but one of Chubb’s achieved incentives are tied to whether Miami’s defense finishes in the top 20 of points allowed in 2025.
The Dolphins are allowing 24.1 points per game, which ranks Miami 21st heading into the final game of this week, which is the Falcons (6-9) hosting the Rams (11-4). Coincidentally, the Falcons are ranked 20th coming into the game, averaging 24.0 points per game.
If the Rams score 27 points on the Falcons in Week 17 the Dolphins will overtake Atlanta, and put Chubb in position to earn $5,175,000 million in incentives for playing time triggers, and sack production.
“Honestly.... If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be,” Chubb said after Sunday’s game when asked about the incentives. “My story is already written. God put me in these shoes to lead, to live the way I’m living. If it’s supposed to be, it’s supposed to be. If it’s not, whoop-dee-doo.”
But was it a coincidence he gave the Dolphins’ the postgame speech?
“It’s as good as it gets with Bradley Chubb. You talk about a leader who’s steadfast in his approach. I think you guys have been on top of he’s reached some incentives, and you love that for a guy who bets on himself for the sake of the team,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “I think he’s really in this platform — as a captain — shown what an elite human being he is on top of his playing ability that we rely on week in, and week out.”
Chubb, who was forced to restructure his $19.4 million contract to make it team friendly, creating Miami cap space the team needed to signing free agents and the 2025 draft class, had a max value of $8.75 million of his contract put in bonuses for playing time, games played and sack production.
By playing in all 17 games this season, which Chubb is on pace to do if he plays against the New England Patriots on Sunday evening, he will receive $2.2 million in per-game roster bonuses, which will be added to his $7.44 million signing bonus and $1,255,000 base salary.
Chubb has another $3,050,000 in playing-time incentives, which he’s on track to receive by playing 72% of the Dolphins’ defensive snaps so far this season. He gets another $900,000 if he plays 75% and another $900,000 if he plays 78%. But to receive those incentives the Dolphins must possess one of the NFL’s top 20 scoring defenses.
Chubb was already on pace to earn $1,225,000 for producing six sacks this season, and he triggered another $900,000 on Sunday by getting that sack total to eight. If he produces 2.5 sacks against the Patriots, getting his sack total to 11, he will receive another $900,000.
But all those incentives will only be paid to the eight-year veteran if the Dolphins deliver a top-20 scoring defense, which means Chubb and his fellow defenders will have to produce a stingy performance against the Patriots, whose offense comes into Sunday’s contest averaging 28.3 points per game.
To put the size of the incentives in perspective, only eight players on the Dolphins’ entire 53-man roster, which includes himself, will be paid more than Chubb’s potential incentives earned this season. That indicates this isn’t a small sum of money, even by NFL standards, and will potentially have salary cap ramifications for the team.
Bonuses or not, what Chubb has achieved this season should make him a candidate for NFL Comeback Player of the Year considering he missed all of 2024 after a serious right knee injury in December of 2023, tearing his Achilles tendon and two ligaments.
“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 46 tackles, a team leading 8.5 sacks and 18 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and recovered one fumble in his 16 games. “I’m going to be a better version of myself each and every time.”
This story was originally published December 29, 2025 at 1:18 PM.
