It is weird seeing him in aqua and orange. Honestly, for a decade, Joe Cardona was as much a fixture in New England as cold winters and overpriced lobster rolls. He was the last remaining link to the second half of the Patriots dynasty. Then, in the spring of 2025, the unthinkable happened. Bill Belichick’s favorite specialist—the man who literally snaps the ball for a living while serving as a Lieutenant in the Naval Reserve—got the axe.
Enter the Joe Cardona Miami Dolphins era.
It wasn't exactly a blockbuster trade that blew up the ESPN ticker. We are talking about a long snapper, after all. But if you’ve followed the Dolphins’ special teams disasters over the last couple of seasons, you know exactly why this move was a bigger deal than it looks on paper.
The Chaos Before Joe Cardona Joined the Miami Dolphins
Let’s be real: Miami’s special teams were a mess in 2024. They went through long snappers like some people go through streaming subscriptions. By the time the season ended, five different guys had held that ball. That is not how you win in the NFL. When you’re trying to kick a game-winning field goal, you don't want a "new guy" wondering if the laces are supposed to face out.
The Dolphins released Blake Ferguson and immediately looked north. Cardona was sitting there as a free agent because the Patriots decided to go young with a seventh-round rookie named Julian Ashby.
✨ Don't miss: Liechtenstein National Football Team: Why Their Struggles are Different Than You Think
On May 9, 2025, Miami pulled the trigger. They signed Cardona to a one-year deal worth roughly $1.42 million. For a specialist who is 33 years old, that is a solid "prove it" contract. It signaled that Mike McDaniel was tired of the snapping circus.
Why He’s More Than Just a Specialist
Cardona isn't your average NFL player. He's a Navy guy—a Lieutenant in the Naval Reserve. That’s not a PR stunt. He actually balances his military duties with the brutal schedule of a professional football player.
When he arrived in Miami, he brought two Super Bowl rings and 160 games of experience. You can't coach that. You certainly can't buy it on the cheap. He was the longest-tenured Patriot before they cut him, and his presence in the locker room was supposed to stabilize a special teams unit that had become a liability.
The Contract Reality and 2026 Outlook
Now, we have to talk about the money and the future. Cardona’s 2025 season was basically a one-year audition in South Florida. According to contract data from Over the Cap and Spotrac, his deal included a modest $83,750 signing bonus and about $483,750 in total guarantees.
🔗 Read more: Cómo entender la tabla de Copa Oro y por qué los puntos no siempre cuentan la historia completa
It was a low-risk move for Miami.
But as we hit January 2026, the Joe Cardona Miami Dolphins story hits a crossroads. He is officially scheduled to become an Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) in March. This leaves the Dolphins with a choice: do they keep the veteran who stabilized their operation, or do they look for a younger, cheaper option in the draft?
- Reliability: In his first season with Miami, Cardona stayed healthy—a relief after that nasty torn foot tendon he dealt with back in 2022.
- Leadership: He was a team captain in New England for a reason.
- Cost: At 34, he won't break the bank, but he’ll expect more than a rookie minimum.
The Special Teams Impact
Think about the kickers. Miami has been trying to find consistency at the kicker position, and having a snapper who puts the ball in the same spot every single time is the first step. Cardona's snap speed is elite. His accuracy is boring, which is exactly what you want.
If the ball is slightly off, the holder has to adjust. If the holder adjusts, the kicker’s timing is ruined. When the timing is ruined, you miss a 40-yarder against Buffalo in December. Joe Cardona makes sure that doesn't happen.
💡 You might also like: Ohio State Football All White Uniforms: Why the Icy Look Always Sparks a Debate
What Most People Get Wrong About Joe Cardona
People think long snappers are just big guys who couldn't make it as offensive linemen. That is total nonsense. Cardona was a fifth-round pick. In the world of NFL specialists, that’s like being a top-10 pick.
He also has 22 career tackles. He isn't just snapping and standing there; he’s a gunner on the punt team. He has forced fumbles. He actually likes to hit people. It’s that Navy grit, I guess.
Some fans in Miami were skeptical because of his age. They saw a 33-year-old coming off a major injury a few years back and thought he was washed. But 2025 proved he still has plenty of juice left. He played in every game and, frankly, you didn't hear his name called much during the broadcasts. For a long snapper, that is the ultimate compliment.
Actionable Insights for Dolphins Fans
The Joe Cardona Miami Dolphins relationship is currently in "wait and see" mode. If you’re a fan or a fantasy degenerate (though why you’d track long snappers is beyond me), here is what to look for in the coming months:
- Watch the Draft: If Miami uses a late-round pick on a long snapper, Cardona’s time in Florida is likely over.
- Monitor the Kicker: Keep an eye on who the Dolphins bring in to kick. A veteran snapper like Cardona is often the best "safety blanket" for a young kicker.
- Follow the Transaction Wire: Cardona is a "locker room guy." If the Dolphins don't re-sign him by the start of free agency in March 2026, he will have plenty of suitors elsewhere—likely teams looking for a championship-caliber specialist.
Joe Cardona brought professionalism to a position that had been a disaster in Miami. Whether he stays for 2026 or moves on, his one-year stint proved that even the smallest cogs in the machine can make or break a season. Stabilization isn't sexy, but it’s how you win games in the fourth quarter.
Check the official Dolphins roster updates through February. That will be the primary indicator of whether they value his veteran presence enough to offer him a multi-year extension.