Shaquil Akeem Barrett, a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker, has filed for immediate reinstatement after announcing his retirement in July following the tragic loss of his daughter.
In April 2023, Shaq Barrett and his family experienced an unimaginable tragedy when their 2-year-old daughter, Arrayah, drowned in the family’s pool.
Highlights
- Shaq Barrett, a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker, has filed for immediate reinstatement.
- His grief over the loss of his 2-year-old daughter, Arrayah, is a constant presence in his life, coming in waves.
- Shaq Barrett and his family launched a foundation called Arrayah Hope to provide free swimming lessons to children in Tampa, Florida.
Despite the devastating loss, he returned to play at the start of the 2023 season, recording 4.5 sacks and 52 total tackles, including 33 solo tackles.
Barrett announced his retirement in July, explaining that he was “ready to shift my full focus to my wife and kids and help them pursue their dreams.”
Well, Barrett signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins in March after being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a salary cap move.
Shaq Barrett Opened Up About Daily Struggles Following Tragic Loss of Daughter
The Miami Dolphins currently hold the rights to Barrett’s contract.
And now, Shaq Barrett, a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker, has filed for immediate reinstatement.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel admitted on 26 November that he was surprised by Shaq Barrett’s desire to return this season and wasn’t prepared to comment on what the team would do.
McDaniel explained that he hadn’t contacted Barrett since he retired before training camp in July.
After all, Shaq Barrett’s grief over the loss of his 2-year-old daughter, Arrayah, is a constant presence in his life, coming in waves.
Some days, its weight hits harder than others, especially when he’s left alone with his thoughts. In those moments, football offers him some relief.
He misses his little girl—his “sunshine”—who tragically drowned in the family pool on April 30.
It would have marked her first-day attending training camp with her mother, Jordanna, and three older siblings, making the loss feel even more real.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the tragedy, Barrett admitted that the pain is a daily struggle.
“Today was harder than the last couple of days,”
Shaq Barrett
He spoke about missing her smile, her boundless energy, and the cherished moments of putting her to bed each night and reading stories to her.
He described how much joy she brought to their lives, leaving a hole that will never be filled.
Shaq Barrett and his family launched a foundation called Arrayah Hope to provide free swimming lessons to children in Tampa, Florida.
Barrett also advocates using artificial intelligence in pool safety cameras, which can alert families when a child is near the pool or pool gates, not just when the child is in the water.
“I feel like we doing the best we can in this situation, I ain’t saying we doing perfect, but we doing I think the best we can in just, just being honest with our emotions, with each other, with our family and our friends, everybody that’s supporting us. And not like being afraid to be weak from time to time … and not even weak — it’s showing emotions.
Shaq Barrett
Barrett and his wife, Jordanna, welcomed a daughter, Allanah Ray, in February 2024.
While they considered the pregnancy a blessing, Barrett calls it “bittersweet.”
At first, the idea of having another child was overwhelming for him, given the pain of losing Arrayah, but over time, he has come to believe that Arrayah had a hand in bringing Allanah into their lives.
Barrett knows that nothing will ever replace their daughter, Arrayah and that the pain of her loss is something they will carry forever.
Additional Information
- Barrett started his college football career with the Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks before transferring to Colorado State.
- In 2019, he led the league in sacks and earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.
- Barrett helped the Buccaneers win Super Bowl LV, recording a sack in the game.
- Because Barrett was transferring from a school that had discontinued its program, he was eligible to play right away without having to sit out a year.
