Pulling off an Eli is always an option. It was realistic for defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, too. However, he was more than happy in the Detroit Lions, who selected him second overall in 2010. But amid stalled contract extension talks and trade speculation in 2014, when he mystified a throng of local reporters about it, it opened a can of worms. Ultimately, the offseason news vacuum got him.

The DT, who earned a Pro Bowl nod every season except 2011, was traded to the Miami Dolphins on a six-year, $114 million contract. While the deal made Suh the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history at the time, it went downhill fast. The team reached the playoffs only once in Suh’s three years, with him appearing in a lone Pro Bowl in his career since then. The only question that lingered: Why did he ever leave the Motor City? Fast forward a decade later, and Suh has finally revealed how he was never the traitor.

“I left Detroit because it was best for me and my family, but also I gave them, nobody knows, I gave them the option to match, and they didn’t match,” the retired player said on the No Free Lunch podcast. “What am I supposed to do? Let’s talk about facts. Nobody knows that, so who was disloyal in that decision?”

According to a league source, the Lions offered Suh $17 million a year with $58 million guaranteed over six years. However, the Dolphins, helped by the income tax rules in Florida, made an offer that the defensive tackle couldn’t refuse. They offered $60 million guaranteed and $114 million overall, figures that the Lions simply couldn’t match. Suh made it clear that leaving Detroit was not an easy choice.

He entered Detroit to be a franchise cornerstone. The Lions were vying to become a contender after a couple of disappointing seasons, and Suh wanted to help build them up. He once also revealed that he accepted a smaller deal because the team told him he couldn’t earn more than their quarterback, a recent first-round pick. Out of respect, he accepted the fate and did his part, leading the defense from the get-go.

But when it came to extension, even though the Lions wanted to extend him, at the heels of his performance and leadership with the team, he had to pack his bags.

Suh was drafted second overall by the Lions in 2010 and played in Detroit until the 2014 season. During his time with the team, he quickly became the anchor of the defensive line and one of the most talked-about defenders in the league.

Across his NFL career, Suh posted strong numbers. He recorded 392 solo tackles, 208 assists, and 71.5 sacks. He also recovered nine fumbles and grabbed one interception while earning five Pro Bowl selections.

After leaving Detroit, Suh continued his career with several teams, including the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Philadelphia Eagles. He also made three Super Bowl appearances, winning a ring with Tampa Bay in Super Bowl LV. However, one thing most talked about was his leadership.

Suh once called out the Dolphins coaches after a 1-3 start

Suh played for four different teams after his Lions exit, but he always remained the anchor for them. In fact, one of the instances from his only second year with the Dolphins, which eventually led to a wild-card appearance, remains quite memorable.

The Dolphins signed Suh on a realistically unsustainable deal. But what he could prove why he was worth it all was his performance, something that was always in his hands. So, the very first thing he did was call an impromptu meeting during the 2015 season when they were already in a 1-3 hole, with all the players and the coaches included.

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His agenda in that meeting was simple: hold everyone accountable, again, coaches included.

“Hey, I’m gonna be here,” Suh said. “I signed this big contract. I’m gonna be here. I have a vested interest in being here, but some of you (expletives) are just mailing it in, coaches included.”

He went on to specifically name players and coaches who were either sandbagging it or excelling. That meeting was followed by another where the coaches tried to gain the respect of their players back after just hearing an earful from an incoming player.

“This is why it was so memorable.  And it was something I had never seen before,” former Dolphins linebacker Spencer Paysinger recalled once on his podcast, “Higher Valleys” with former teammate Jelani Jenkins. “We’re all sitting there like gripping the chairs … so we were sitting in there watching good theater. Like this (crap) is fantastic.

“And I had never seen a player wield that much power in person before. It was like watching black Jesus, dog. I was like, ‘This is awesome.'”

Things could’ve been different. But the Dolphins only went to the wild-card game once. To date, looking back at Suh’s Detroit exit continues to raise questions about contract decisions and loyalty. But years later, the veteran lineman is now focused on his post-playing career.

Why Ndamukong Suh decided to retire from the NFL

In 2025, Ndamukong Suh officially stepped away from the NFL after a long and successful career. The veteran defensive tackle shared the update with fans and explained that the decision came after deep thought about life beyond football.

Apparently, his late father had a strong influence on this choice. His father once told him it might be time to move on from the game and focus on the next chapter of his life. That conversation stayed with him for a long time.

He had already been preparing for life after football for years. While the sport gave him fame and success, it was never meant to be the final goal of his journey. Instead, Suh now wants to focus on helping others grow. He plans to share lessons from his career with athletes, young professionals, and entrepreneurs who are building their futures.

One of the main ways he plans to do that is through his No Free Lunch podcast. The podcast focuses on real conversations about life, money, discipline, and long-term planning, topics Suh believes are important for young athletes. Knowing from his own experience, he would wish for the upcoming generations of NFL players would know how the league continues to operate.