Miami Dolphins linebackers David Ojabo and Josh Uche’s careers are crossing paths for the first time in six years. The two go back to their college days under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, and Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan indirectly caused a reunion by acquiring both pass rushers this offseason.
Dolphins LB David Ojabo Goes Down Memory Lane of Friendship With Josh Uche
NFL reunions often go under the radar, but Ojabo and Uche aim to make an explosive impact on a revamped Dolphins defense that posted a 67.6 DEFi score (the worst in the league) in 2025, according to PFSN’s Defense Impact metrics.
The pass rushers initially met at Michigan when Ojabo met Uche on a recruiting visit, and they quickly became close friends as teammates in 2019. During a recent press conference, Ojabo was asked about joining Miami this offseason, the same team as Uche.
“That’s my brother, man,” Ojabo said. “It’s almost like my big bro. I showed him a photo, actually, when I was in high school visiting Michigan. He just finished a practice, and it was me and my mom. My mom looked at him and was like, ‘Take care of my son, be his big bro. He’s going to be looking up to you,’ and he said he got me. And ever since then, honestly, he’s been looking out.”
How close were the two players? Well, Uche even gave Ojabo his first car.
“My first car, I got it from him, green Range Rover, so he’s been taking care of me, man,” Ojabo added. “I gave him a call, honestly, after Coach Hafley reached out and just asked him, ‘What do you think about this? Any advice, any way you could lead me?’ And he said, ‘Man, let’s come here and do this thing.'”
Ojabo and Uche were teammates in 2019, but they didn’t play together because Ojabo didn’t appear in any games as a freshman. Now, they are excited to change that in Miami. As the Dolphins head in an entirely new direction after last season, the pair aims to be part of the team’s long-term plans.
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“In Michigan, we never really got to play with each other because I was a freshman and he had already gotten some experience,” Ojabo said. “Now, what an opportunity. All we need is an opportunity, right?
“What an opportunity to be on the field with him and honestly just win, man. We’re two competitors, so challenging each other and push each other… So thank God it worked out this way.”
