Former Chicago Bears defensive back Nick McCloud’s latest NFL stop proved short-lived. On Saturday, the Miami Dolphins released the veteran cornerback just 12 days after signing him, ending a brief stay that began with a mid-camp workout and contract on Aug. 10.
The move came hours before Miami’s preseason matchup against the New York Giants.
For Bears fans, the news carries a familiar ring. McCloud spent the 2025 season in Chicago after signing a one-year deal in March of that year. He appeared in 15 games and made four starts, finishing with 27 tackles and two pass defenses.
Injuries along the secondary opened the door for increased defensive snaps behind Tyrique Stevenson, and while the results were mixed—he allowed a high completion rate and several touchdowns when targeted—he provided veteran depth during a transitional year under new head coach Ben Johnson.
McCloud arrived in Chicago as a proven special-teams contributor and rotational defensive back with prior stops in Buffalo, Cincinnati, the New York Giants, and San Francisco.
Undrafted out of Notre Dame in 2021 after also playing at NC State, the 6-foot-1, 191-pound corner had logged 63 career games and 20 starts entering the 2025 campaign.
Bears coaches valued his experience and physical tools, even if the final numbers reflected the challenges of filling in against NFL receivers.
His release by Miami leaves him a free agent once more at age 28. The Dolphins, dealing with their own secondary injuries and evaluating younger options, decided the veteran no longer fit their 90-man roster plans as cuts approach. McCloud recorded just one tackle in limited preseason action for Miami the week prior.
From a Bears perspective, McCloud’s journey underscores the reality of roster construction in the modern NFL. Players who fill valuable roles one season can quickly find themselves shopping for the next opportunity.
Chicago’s secondary remains a point of focus heading into 2026, with established pieces like Jaylon Johnson and emerging talent competing for snaps. McCloud’s reliable presence in 2025 offered a bridge during injuries, and his work ethic was never questioned.
Whether another team claims him off waivers or he signs elsewhere in the coming days remains to be seen. For Bears supporters who watched him contribute last season, the hope is that the journeyman corner finds a more stable landing spot—one that rewards the consistency he showed while wearing navy and orange.
In a league defined by constant turnover, McCloud’s short Dolphins chapter is simply the latest chapter in a career built on perseverance.
