The Miami Dolphins are looking to deliver a stronger performance next season and maximize the talent of star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Part of that plan included a potential reunion with a former veteran running back ahead of the upcoming NFL season. However, that move will not happen, as the player is opting for retirement.
Veteran running back Matt Breida plans to retire after seven seasons in the NFL, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Thursday. The Dolphins recently requested a workout with Breida, but he declined.
Breida, 30, ends his career with 2,652 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns over 98 games with the San Francisco 49ers, the Dolphins, the Buffalo Bills, and the New York Giants. He also recorded 120 receptions for 935 yards and six receiving touchdowns.
His best season came in 2018 with the 49ers, when he totaled 1,075 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns in 14 games, including 13 starts. Breida spent time in training camp last year with the 49ers but was released before the regular season and did not play in 2024. For now, the Dolphins and Tagovailoa will have to move forward without the veteran presence they had hoped to add.
Running back Matt Breida #22 of the San Francisco 49ers runs up field during the second half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017
Matt Breida’s journey in the NFL
Breida entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2017, signing with the 49ers. Despite going unselected in the draft, he quickly proved his worth with his speed and playmaking ability. In his second season, in 2018, he posted a career-high 814 rushing yards and averaged 5.3 yards per carry to lead the team.
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After three years with the 49ers, Breida was traded to the Dolphins in 2020. His time in Miami was short, but he showcased his versatility, contributing in both the running and passing games. He later joined the Bills in 2021, reuniting with former coaches and filling a rotational role in the backfield.
In 2022, Breida signed with the Giants, where he reunited with former Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, now New York’s head coach. In his two seasons there, he played a supporting role in the ground attack. In 2024, he briefly returned to the 49ers for training camp before being released.
Over seven NFL seasons, Breida appeared in 98 games, amassing 2,652 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns, along with 935 receiving yards and six scores through the air. Now, at age 30, Breida has decided to step away from the game, closing the book on a productive professional career.
