Tag: Micah Hyde

Bills release tribute to Micah Hyde as safety officially announces NFL retirement

Bills release tribute to Micah Hyde as safety officially announces NFL retirement

The Buffalo Bills have released a heartwarming tribute to safety Micah Hyde as he is officially done with the NFL.

During locker room cleanout day, the 34-year-old said he’s finished. Hyde came out of part-retirement to be a mentor in 2024 and when the Bills’ season came to an end, he revealed that’s it for him.

A staple for head coach Sean McDermott, Hyde was one of the first players the team signed under McDermott’s watch back in 2017.

Looking all the way back to Day 1 for Hyde in Buffalo, the Bills released a touching video for Hyde after he wrote on social media this week that… yes, he is retiring.

The team’s video can be found below:

Bills safety Micah Hyde officially retires from NFL

Bills safety Micah Hyde officially retires from NFL

As expected, Buffalo Bills safety Micah Hyde announced his retirement following the loss in the AFC championship game.

Hyde, a 34-year-old former fifth-round pick from the University of Iowa, re-joined the Bills in December of this season to serve in more of an advisory role for the stretch run.

When he re-joined the team he vowed that he would retire after the last game of the season. Now, his All-Pro playing career has officially come to an end.

Hyde joined the Bills as a free agent in 2017, signing a 5-year, $30 million contract. He became a vital piece of a Bills defense that was starting to turn the franchise around. He was an All-Pro in his first year in Buffalo and went on to start in 95 regular season games and 9 postseason games. He recorded 456 tackles, 18 interceptions, 6 forced fumbles, 9 fumbles recovered, and two All-Pros.

Before Buffalo, he was drafted in the fifth round by the Green Bay Packers in 2013 where he spent the first four years of his career. Misused as a slot corner in Green Bay, Hyde was able to find his home on the backend of the Bills’ secondary.

Hyde played a big part in the Bills’ transformation into Super Bowl contenders, even if they weren’t able to bring one home during his tenure.

Perhaps he’ll consider re-joining the team in the future as a secondary coach.

Former Packers DB Micah Hyde to retire from NFL following 2024 season

Micah Hyde, a 2013 draft pick of the Packers, is retiring from the NFL following the end of the 2024 season.

Former Green Bay Packers defensive back Micah Hyde is retiring from the NFL after 12 seasons.

Hyde told Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News that he is retiring from the game and his playing career is over following the Bills exit from the postseason.

Hyde, a fifth-round pick of the Packers in the 2013 draft, was on the Bills practice squad to end the 2024 season.

Hyde played in 158 regular season games and 17 playoff games between 2013 and 2023. He spent four seasons as a versatile defensive back and special teamer in Green Bay, producing eight interceptions. 4.0 sacks, 227 tackles, 24 pass breakups and three punt return touchdowns over 63 games with the Packers.

Hyde is one of three Packers players (Desmond Howard, Will Blackmon) to return three punts for touchdowns over a career in Green Bay. His 738 punt return yards ranks eighth in team history, and his 93-yard punt return touchdown is the fourth longest in team history.

Hyde’s punt return for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 28, 2014 still represents the last punt return touchdown scored by the Packers.

Ted Thompson declined to re-sign Hyde following the 2016 season, and he went on to sign with the Bills, transition to full-time safety and produce two All-Pro seasons (2017, 2021). He played his final seven seasons in Buffalo.

Hyde turned 34 years old in December. He signed with the Bills practice squad on Dec. 4 but did not appear in a game.

Hyde will retire from the NFL with 24 interceptions, five recovered fumbles and five career touchdowns (three punt returns, one interception, one kickoff return). He was on the field for over 8,364 defensive snaps and 1,304 special teams snaps.

What Sean McDermott said about the Bills signing Micah Hyde

What Sean McDermott said about the Bills signing Micah Hyde

The Buffalo Bills have safety Micah Hyde back on board.

Ahead of facing the Los Angeles Rams (6-6) in Week 14, the 33-year-old signed on the dotted line in Buffalo this week. It was an expected move for a long time.

A fan favorite, Hyde’s happy to be back.

“This place is home and then walking back into this building, the excitement that I would have seeing people and also the excitement that they would have seeing me, it’s a match made in heaven, baby,” Hyde said.

Fans are equally excited… but after hearing what head coach Sean McDermott had to say, feelings will be tempered.

The coach explained that he thinks his defense is “in a good spot” in terms of the safety position. Hyde might not be doing much, at least not right away.

McDermott’s full thoughts on Hyde’s return can be found below:

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WATCH: Micah Hyde makes his return to Bills practice

WATCH: Micah Hyde makes his return to Bills practice

The Buffalo Bills brought back an old friend on Wednesday as they signed safety Micah Hyde to the practice squad.

Many Bills fans and media were thinking about a potential reunion in the back of their minds after general manager Brandon Beane alluded to keeping the door open way back in March. Now, it has finally happened, and the former team captain joins while the Bills are riding a seven-game win streak into Week 14.

Although head coach Sean McDermott has tempered expectations for the two-time All-Pro, the Bills are glad to have him back home for one final push.

Watch Hyde’s return to Bills practice on Thursday below:

Bills locker room reacts to Micah Hyde news: ‘Like he never left’

Bills locker room reacts to Micah Hyde news: ‘Like he never left’

Were you surprised that Micah Hyde re-signed with the Buffalo Bills once again?

You’re not alone, even when factoring in those who will now share a locker room with him in Orchard Park.

The Bills (10-2) announced that Hyde had signed with the team for the remainder of the 2024 season on Wednesday. That news comes ahead of Buffalo’s Week 14 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams (6-6).

It’s unclear exactly what the 33-year-old will bring to the table in terms of playing time, but his veteran leadership behind the scenes factored into the decision to bring him back, per head coach Sean McDermott.

But it appears that plan was never really explained to the Bills locker room.

After Hyde’s first practice back in Buffalo, teammates were asked about him returning. Many were happy to see him and just as surprised as the rest of us that Hyde is back on the roster.

“I thought he was just here for a visit,” offensive lineman Spencer Brown said. “Then later in the day someone said he was practicing and I was like, ‘oh, he’s on the team? Awesome.'”

“He’s really good people,” defensive end Greg Rousseau said. “It felt like he never left.”

A roundup of reaction from the Bills locker room can be found below:

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He’s back: The Bills have signed veteran safety Micah Hyde

He’s back: The Bills have signed veteran safety Micah Hyde

The Buffalo Bills have brought back a familiar face and fan favorite: Safety Micah Hyde.

Hyde, 33, had been a free agent since the end of last season. Since then, Hyde had said he would only sign for the Bills and he has kept his word.

Hyde heads back to Buffalo and will start on the team’s practice squad. At this early stage, it’s unclear what his immediate role will be:

Hyde originally spent 2017 to 2023 in Buffalo. After starting his career with the Green Bay Packers, Hyde signed in Buffalo via free agency.

In those seven seasons, Hyde was a two-time All-Pro with the Bills. Throughout this past offseason and early stages of the 2024 season, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane left the door open for Hyde to potentially return.

Currently the Bills’ starting safeties are Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin. It’s hard to envision Hyde stepping right into a No. 1 role after that pair has taken a majority of the snaps so far this season. Regardless, Hyde provides depth for the team’s upcoming postseason run.

Bills Wire will provide further updates as information is made available.

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Bills GM Brandon Beane: ‘We have been all in, all along’

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane joined the Pat McAfee show Wednesday to answer some questions in light of the recent trade for wide receiver Amari Cooper.

Beane made one thing loud and clear. The Bills were never thinking about a rebuild. The trade for Cooper was evidence that the Bills are still very much all in to win the whole thing.

“We are still all in… If Cleveland wasn’t ready to do this we were going to continue to monitor it,” Beane said. “We still got a few weeks before the deadline. If we feel there is something else that we need or we feel there is something else that can get us over the top… we have been all in all along.”

When the Bills didn’t bring back a handful of marquee players this offseason, there were murmurs that it was a “reload” or “rebuild” year for the team. Jordan Poyer, Tre’Davious White, Stefon Diggs, Mitch Morse, Gabe Davis, Micah Hyde… there were a lot of familiar names and trusted leaders who exited the team. But, Beane had a plan all along. It wasn’t a rebuild, it was a transition.

“I know we have lost some names this offseason… some guys who have been captains… this was what I said was an offseason of transition,” Beane said. “The mindset here, as long as Josh Allen is our quarterback, we’re going to try to win this thing and we’re going to do what we can every single year.”

So, sitting at 4-2 with a lead in the AFC East, the team added a legit number-one receiver and has left the door open to upgrade the team further before the trade deadline. These are reassuring words from Beane if you are a Bills fan.

Take a look at the full response from Beane on the Pat McAfee Show:

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Bills’ Brandon Beane updates Micah Hyde’s return status

#Bills’ Brandon Beane updates Micah Hyde’s return status:

The door is not closed on Micah Hyde returning to the Buffalo Bills, but it’s not sounding likely.

Speaking following the NFL’s roster cut-down day this week, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane said the Bills and Hyde are on good terms. However, he hasn’t spoken to Hyde recently so a return before the start of the 2024 season is seems unlikely.

“Kind of just seeing where it goes. Love Micah and we have not closed the door on that, and as far as I understand, I don’t think Micah has either. We’ll stay in touch. Love Micah,” Beane said via video conference.

The team’s actions since don’t indicate a return for Hyde, either.

Safety Lewis Cine was signed by the Bills after cut-down day. He joins a safety unit which is now a deep group. Second-round rookie Cole Bishop was already battling with veterans Damar Hamlin and Mike Edwards for a starting spot alongside Taylor Rapp.

Hyde had played in Buffalo alongside Jordan Poyer since the 2017 NFL season. His contract was up at the end of last year and while he is technically a free agent, Hyde had indicated he would only return to the Bills.

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Brandon Beane updates Micah Hyde’s status from Bills training camp

Brandon Beane updates Micah Hyde’s status from #Bills training camp:

The door remains open for Micah Hyde, according to Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane.

The Bills GM spoke via video conference at the start of 2024 training camp. Hyde is still not present summer workouts, but it’s still an option for him as far as Beane is concerned.

After lingering neck injuries, the 33-year-old safety is considering hanging it up and retiring. However, he has not officially done so yet.

Beane said Hyde is “staying ready,” but it does not sound like Hyde intends on returning to football just yet.

Hyde noted this offseason that if he does come back to the NFL, it will be only be in Buffalo.

Beane’s full thoughts on Hyde’s status can be found in the clip below:

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