Michael Taaffe ‘blacked out’ when the Miami Dolphins call
The call showed up as potential spam, but the Austin Westlake product answered it anyway.
AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 28: Defensive back Michael Taaffe #16 of the Texas Longhorns runs onto the field after being announced on senior night before the SEC football game between Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies on November 28, 2025, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images At a draft party with former teammates like Arch Manning, Andrew Mukuba, and Jahdae Barron, Michael Taaffe’s phone rang during the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, right at the high range of the draft projections for the former walk on and fifth generation Longhorn who developed into an All-American on the Forty Acres. The call showed up as potential spam, but Taaffe didn’t care.
“I just was like, “Man, this has got to be it,’” Taaffe said. It wasn’t spam — it was the Miami Dolphins selecting Taaffe with the No. 158 pick.
He doesn’t remember much else. “Right when I answered, I kind of blacked out, and all I heard it was it was Miami,” Taaffe said. “I was just so relieved.
” Michael Taaffe is now a Miami Dolphin He reunites with best friend Quinn Ewers in the 305 #HookEm | #FinsUp pic. twitter. com/NviL9ZycRT — Cory Mose (@Cory_Mose) April 25, 2026 The 6’0, 190-pounder is now joining former teammates Trey Moore and Quinn Ewers in South Beach.