Miami Dolphins rookie safety Michael Taaffe met with the media at the end of last week, giving reporters a chance to ask him some questions as he prepares for his first NFL regular-season game when the Dolphins face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1. Taaffe was happy to share his thoughts on the youngest roster in the NFL having a chance to grow together as the Dolphins rebuild their roster and how his game fits into the physical mentality the coaching staff is instilling in the team. It was his closing
comment, however, that may have been the most powerful statement.
“Last thing I want to say, I think everybody knows it’s Suicide Prevention Month, so just a call to action to everybody out there: you are enough, you are loved and no matter what you’re going through, just know that there’s a rainbow on the other side, there’s life on the other side. And no matter what you’re going through, you’re loved and people care for you so hang in there. I know it’s tough in this life and Satan tries to grab us at the wrong times but just know that you are loved and nothing that you’re going through, other people aren’t going through. So stay strong and you are enough.”
If you or someone you know is in crisis, within the United States please dial 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. For Veterans, you can get assistance with specific support for what you are going through by pressing 1 after calling the 988 hotline. The call is free, confidential, and is available in English and Spanish. You can also text HOME to 741741 to reach the hotline via text messages.
Taaffe’s message in bringing awareness to Suicide Prevention Month is an important one. This week includes September 8 (9/8) which has been designated as a day of action to bring awareness to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day.
As for the football aspects of Taaffe’s media availability, he said of the rookies and younger players serving in big roles with the team and building together, he explained, “Oh, it’s been great. I mean, we have to shout out the veterans. The veterans have done such a good job of welcoming us, humbling us at times too, but also welcoming us to what it looks like in the NFL, to what it looks like in the league and how to go about business the right way. So definitely shout out to all the veterans. But at the end of the day, these rookies, they’ve become my best friends the last couple months. And so it’s been really cool to break bread with them, share sweat on the field and go through some adversity, go through positives. And so it’s really fun to see those guys on the field and the real life bullets. It’s gonna be fun to see how we take this thing the next couple years.”
Taaffe, at 6-foot, 190-pounds, is not the most imposing safety on a team that is stressing the need to be physical. How does he overcome his size to embody what the coaching staff wants? “Do my job really, really well,” he replied. “That’s what I always remind myself every single day is if I can do my job really, really well, then all those other things will take care of itself. If you just go run down really, really fast and know what you’re looking at the right time, know where your feet are at the right time, then you’ll be able to play this game forever long you want at a really high level. I think Jessie Bates, I think he’s one of the top dawgs and he’s one of the safeties that I look up to the most and he’s always preached that to me because he’s kind of a little bit similar frame when he came in as a rookie. So I really, really like him.”
For the Dolphins, with Week 1 starting and the entire 2026 season looming, the football aspects of Taaffe’s media availability are important and entertaining. But his comments highlighting Suicide Prevention Month transcend everything else.
Please reach out if you are struggling.
