It’s Time for the Dolphins to Pay Jevon Holland

It’s time to give Jevon Holland his due.

In a moment that could have sealed Miami’s fate, Dolphins safety Jevon Holland delivered a game-altering play when the Dolphins trailed 17-7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in their home opener. With Jacksonville’s offense knocking on the door inside the red zone, QB Trevor Lawrence handed the ball to a dangerous Travis Etienne. With blockers ahead and an open lane, it looked certain that Etienne would plunge into the end zone for his second touchdown of the day, further stretching the Jaguars’ lead.

But that was before he ran into Jevon Holland. In a display of perfect timing and instinct, Holland met Etienne at the 2-yard line and delivered a textbook punch to the football, dislodging it with surgical precision. In an instant, what seemed like a guaranteed touchdown evaporated. The loose ball tumbled forward into the end zone, where Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou dove on it, securing a touchback and giving Miami possession of the ball. The play was nothing short of clutch, a shining example of how Holland thrives in critical moments. You can’t coach that kind of playmaking—it’s an instinct, a skill that only a few possess.

The impact of that forced fumble was enormous. Without it, the Jaguars would have likely pushed the score to 24-7, a daunting lead. Instead, Miami flipped the script in the blink of an eye. On the very next play, the Dolphins offense went 80 yards for a touchdown, turning a potential 17-point deficit into a 14-point swing. Suddenly, Miami was back in the game, and the momentum was firmly on their side. Once again, it was Jevon Holland—perhaps not the flashiest name on the Dolphins’ star-studded defense—who came up with the play when the team needed it the most.

Week after week, Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland seems to be at the center of a pivotal play, and this past Sunday was no different

As the Dolphins eye the postseason, one thing is clear: Jevon Holland is the heartbeat of their defense. He’s not just a rising star; he’s a game-changer, someone who consistently shows up when it matters most. Holland, who is due for a contract extension after seeing teammates Jaylen Waddle and Tua Tagovailoa secure their big-money deals, has earned his spot among the NFL’s elite.

His ability to produce game-changing plays week in and week out makes him invaluable, and the Dolphins would be wise to lock him up for the long haul.