Zach Sieler Bio
Zachary Wilfried Sieler is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 6 in and weighing about 300 pounds, Sieler has built his career on power, leverage, and relentless pursuit of the football. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL draft and has since grown into one of the most productive interior defenders in the league. His number 96 was retired by the Ferris State Bulldogs, cementing his standing as one of the program’s all-time greats.
Early Life and Background
Zachary Wilfried Sieler was born on September 7, 1995, in Pinckney, Michigan, the eldest of three sons. He grew up in the same small community where he would later make local sports history. Sieler attended Pinckney High School, where he was a three-sport athlete competing in football, amateur wrestling, and track and field. In wrestling, he was a state championship participant, demonstrating the physical toughness and conditioning that would later define his football career.
On the gridiron, Sieler played strong-side defensive end for the Pinckney Pirates and served as team captain. He was named Athlete of the Year in his senior class. Despite measuring 6 ft 6 in and weighing 280 pounds, Sieler was considered undersized by major college recruiting standards and was not a highly rated prospect. He ultimately became the first NFL player ever produced by Pinckney High School, a milestone that underscored his unusual development path.
Path to American Football
After high school, Sieler joined the Ferris State Bulldogs in 2013 as a walk-on, choosing the Division II program in Big Rapids, Michigan, to develop his game. He redshirted his first season before joining the field the following year. Sieler quickly became a central figure on a defense that won back-to-back Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) championships in 2014 and 2015.
He earned GLIAC Defensive Lineman of the Year honors twice, in 2016 and 2017, and was a two-time First-team All-GLIAC selection during the same seasons. His play powered Ferris State’s run to the 2016 NCAA Division II National Semifinals. Sieler opted to forgo his senior season and declared for the 2018 NFL draft, where the Baltimore Ravens selected him in the seventh round with the 238th overall pick.
Zach Sieler Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Sieler began his professional career with the Baltimore Ravens after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL draft. He spent the 2018 season developing within the Ravens organization, working to translate his small-school success into a reserve role at the professional level. In 2019, Sieler was waived by Baltimore on August 31, signed to the practice squad the next day, promoted to the active roster in October, and waived again in early December.
Miami Dolphins Breakthrough (2019–Present)
On December 5, 2019, Sieler was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins, beginning the most significant chapter of his career. The Dolphins signed him to a one-year contract in April 2020, and he was later placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list that July before being activated. His breakout came in 2020 when, on November 16, the Dolphins signed him to a three-year contract extension through the 2023 season, signaling their belief in his continued growth.
On August 27, 2023, Sieler signed a three-year, $38.65 million contract extension, cementing his status as a core piece of Miami’s defense. During a Week 14 loss to the Tennessee Titans that season, he recorded his first career interception, picking off quarterback Will Levis and returning it five yards for his first regular-season NFL touchdown. Sieler finished 2023 with 10 sacks, ranking second on the team.
In Week 14 of the 2024 season, Sieler delivered a signature performance with four tackles and two sacks in a 32–26 win over the New York Jets, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. On August 3, 2025, the Dolphins rewarded his production with a three-year, $64 million contract extension, underscoring his standing among the league’s premier interior defenders.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sieler plays with exceptional leverage for a player of his size, pairing a long, powerful frame with disciplined hand usage and a high motor. He excels against the run by anchoring at the line of scrimmage and disrupting double-teams, while his quick first step and active hands generate consistent interior pressure on passing downs. His football intelligence and conditioning allow him to play a high volume of snaps, making him a three-down anchor for the Dolphins’ defensive front.
Notable Events and Milestones
On April 25, 2025, Ferris State retired Sieler’s No. 96 jersey, making him one of only two players in program history to receive that honor, alongside Jason Vander Laan, whose number was retired in 2022. He became the first NFL player ever produced by Pinckney High School, and his 2023 season included his first career interception and defensive touchdown. Sieler’s Week 14 performance against the Jets in 2024 earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week, while his consecutive contract extensions reflect a sustained trajectory of elite production.
Zach Sieler Career Wins
Zachary Wilfried Sieler’s career is measured less in traditional win totals and more in disruptive plays, championships, and postseason appearances. At the college level, he helped Ferris State win consecutive GLIAC championships in 2014 and 2015, then powered the program to the 2016 NCAA Division II National Semifinals. In the NFL, Sieler has been a consistent contributor on defenses that have reached the postseason during his tenure with the Dolphins.
Miami Dolphins Highlights
Since joining Miami in December 2019, Sieler has produced career totals of 357 tackles, 35.5 sacks, 16 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries, and 1 defensive touchdown through the 2025 season. His 10 sacks in 2023 ranked second on the Dolphins, and he was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week following his two-sack effort against the New York Jets in Week 14 of 2024. His most recent contract extension, a three-year, $64 million deal signed in August 2025, reflects his standing as a foundational player for the franchise.
Other Wins and Performances
At the collegiate level, Sieler was a two-time GLIAC Defensive Lineman of the Year and a two-time First-team All-GLIAC selection. He was part of Ferris State’s GLIAC championship squads in 2014 and 2015, and he helped the Bulldogs reach the 2016 NCAA Division II National Semifinals. His jersey retirement in April 2025 stands as one of the highest honors in the program’s history.
Zach Sieler Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Zachary Wilfried Sieler was raised in Pinckney, Michigan, as the eldest of three sons. His younger brother, Adam Sieler, also played college football at Ferris State from 2017 to 2022, following in his older brother’s footsteps and continuing a family connection to the Bulldogs program.
Personal Life
Public details about Sieler’s personal life beyond his immediate family remain limited. He is widely recognized for his community ties to Pinckney and for his ongoing relationship with Ferris State, where his jersey has been retired and his brother also played. Sieler continues to make his offseason home in Michigan while playing for the Miami Dolphins.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represents the opening year of Sieler’s latest three-year, $64 million contract extension signed in August 2025. He remains a starting defensive tackle and one of the central pieces of the Dolphins’ defensive front, expected to anchor both run defense and interior pass rush. Through the early weeks of the campaign, Sieler has continued to log heavy snap counts and produce tackles for loss.
A defining early moment came in Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills, when Sieler committed a roughing-the-punter penalty early in the fourth quarter of a tie game. Buffalo scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive and went on to win by ten points, a sequence that illustrated how a single mistake can swing a contest at the NFL level. Sieler’s experience and leadership will be central to Miami’s effort to keep such moments from defining their season.
Looking ahead, the Dolphins rely on Sieler to set the tone up front as they pursue another postseason berth. With two career interceptions, 35.5 sacks, and a defensive touchdown already to his name, Sieler enters the middle portion of 2025 in peak form. His continued production will be a major factor in determining how far Miami’s defense, and the team as a whole, can advance.
