Sieler's fumble return TD was the first one in Miami Dolphins playoff history
BUFFALO – His Miami Dolphins didn’t win their Sunday wild card playoff game at Buffalo, but former Ferris State defensive end Zach Sieler had the play of his life in his team’s 34-31 loss.
Miami Dolphins safety Eric Rowe's forced fumble against Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen sparked Sieler's touchdown scoop and run of five yards in the second half.
The Miami Dolphins gave Josh Allen and the second-seeded Buffalo Bills a scare in the third quarter, but the preseason Super Bowl favorites recovered for the win to advance to the AFC divisional round.
After a Dolphins three-and-out to begin the second half, Allen was overrun by the Dolphins' blitz, and he was strip-sacked by Rowe, causing the football to roll down near the goal line. Sieler scooped up the loose ball and stumbled into the end zone for the score.
That play gave the seventh-seeded Dolphins the 14-point underdogs, their first lead --24-20 -- after trailing 17-0. Sieler's fumble return touchdown was the first one in Dolphins playoff history.
Sieler played college football at Ferris State, and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
On December 5, 2019, Sieler was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins.
On April 17, 2020, Sieler was re-signed to a one-year contract by the Dolphins.[10] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on July 31, 2020,[11] and was activated six days later.
On November 16, 2020, the Dolphins signed Sieler to a three-year contract extension through the 2023 season.
For Ferris, Sieler was a consensus All-America choice each of his final two seasons and twice received the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year honor along with being chosen in both 2016 and 2017 as the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Super Region Defensive Player of the Year.
His younger brother, Adam, played on the last two Ferris national championship teams as an offensive lineman and is a potential NFL draft pick this spring.
