Shaq Barrett has found a new but familiar home for the remainder of the season.
A day after the Dolphins took the linebacker off the hold/retirement list, the Buccaneers agreed to sign him for the stretch run, according to multiple reports.
Barrett was granted waivers on Friday, making him officially eligible to play again this season.
Prior to the first day of training camp this season, Barrett, 32, announced his retirement from the NFL after signing a one-year contract worth $7 million with the Dolphins in March.
But less than a month later, Barrett hinted at a “perfect, perfect scenario” for coming out of retirement. When he appeared on “Up and Adams.”
Miami previously tried to hold off Barrett's return to the league on Thanksgiving by refusing to take him off the hold/retirement list. This listing made Barrett ineligible to play for any team for the rest of the year.
But the two-time Pro Bowler returned to Tampa Bay after five seasons with the team (2019-23) and one Super Bowl win in 2020.
The linebacker led the NFL with 19.5 sacks in 2019 and remained a key part of the Bucs' defense throughout his tenure in Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay sits just behind the Falcons in first place in the NFC South heading into Week 17.
Despite both teams having an 8-7 record, the Falcons won the tiebreaker and the Bucks were out of the playoffs.
Tampa Bay's defense has been plagued by multiple injuries throughout this season, and Barrett hopes to be a key piece in the Bucs' bid to make the playoffs with two games remaining.
The Bucks will play the Panthers on Sunday, while the Falcons will play the Commanders.
