What is it about Jordan Poyer and so many ex-Bills becoming Dolphins?
MIAMI GARDENS — Dolphins safety Jordan Poyer isn’t pretending. When the Dolphins line up against the Buffalo Bills twice next season, it won’t be just another game. It can’t be. Not after Poyer spent seven seasons with the Bills.
“I get goosebumps thinking about playing them twice a year and just the idea of winning the AFC East,” he said this week.
Players jumping from Buffalo to Miami (and vice versa) isn’t uncommon. In fact, just the opposite. According to Pro Football Reference, it happened 96 times through the 2023 season, making Buffalo one of the most common destinations for ex- or future Dolphins.
More: Jordan Poyer on helping Dolphins end playoff drought: Did it with Bills, can do it again
Most common stop for players before or after wearing Dolphins colors? Believe it or not, New England, with 106 men making the switch. That’s followed by the Jets (100), Bills, plus Browns and Chargers (95) and Lions (90).
At the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find only 34 men who played for both the Dolphins and Steelers (apologies to Minkah Fitzpatrick and Jim Mandich), plus the Ravens (only 44 players), Panthers (49), Jaguars (50) and Bengals (52).
As for the Miami-Buffalo pipeline, here are 10 noteworthy times players swapped those teams' colors:
RB Frank Gore
Played one season with each team, rushing for 722 yards in 2018 in Miami before gaining 599 yards in Buffalo the next year and wrapping up his tour of AFC East with Jets in 2020 (653 yards). Rumor has it he built a Hall of Fame career over 10 seasons somewhere out west, though.
RB Thurman Thomas
Another Hall of Famer. Had 11,938 rushing yards and 65 TDs (many against Miami) before playing for Dolphins in 2000, but managed just 136 yards. When Bills QB Jim Kelly heard his backfield mate was headed to Miami, he said he was going to be ill.
TE Charles Clay
Checked in at No. 89 on list of NFL’s top 100 players in 2014 as a member of the Dolphins before injuring a knee. Signed as a free agent with Buffalo in 2015. Played four seasons for each team and had 1,809 receiving yards for Miami, 1,822 for Buffalo.
RB Cookie Gilchrist
Was an All-Pro back for the Bills, leading the league in rushing TDs three straight seasons, but ended up in Miami in inaugural season of 1966. Ran for 262 yards but no TDs. Flamboyant, Cadillac-driving RB inspired the phrase “Lookie! Lookie! Here comes Cookie!”
CB Troy Vincent
Current NFL vice president was a first-round pick of the Dolphins in 1992. Played for Bills from 2004-2006, making five INTs.
RB Reggie Bush
Ran for 2,072 yards in two seasons with Dolphins starting in 2011. Played for Bills in 2016 and had head-scratching stats (12 carries, minus-3 yards).
RB Joe Auer
In addition to making history by scoring on a kickoff return in first play in Dolphins history, he ran for 544 yards in 1966-67. From 1964-65 as a member of the Bills, he had 210 rushing yards.
G Richie Incognito
Spent four years with each club and made Pro Bowl with both.
WR/QB Marlin Briscoe
History-making player who had 2,171 yards and 18 TDs receiving for Buffalo in 1969-71, then joined Miami and won two Super Bowls in 1972-74, finishing with 858 receiving yards and seven TDs.
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
Didn't think we'd forget Fitz, did you? Well-traveled QB was with Bills from 2009-12, throwing for 11,654 and 80 TDs. With Miami from 2019-2020, passed for 5,620 yards and 33 TDs. Inexplicably returned to Bills games on frigid days with no shirt on, apparently believing beard would keep him warm.
Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal. Click here to subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jordan Poyer joins loooong list of players on Bills-Dolphins pipeline
