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Ifeatu Melifonwu certainly has one of the more interesting names the Miami Dolphins have brought in during free agency, and the safety could be one of the more interesting pieces toward team success in 2025.
First, the name, which has deep meaning for Melifonwu’s family.
“My name means ‘reminder,’ ” Melifonwu explained to South Florida media members this week in a web conference call. “I’m Nigerian; it’s Igbo, so ‘reminder.’
“Basically, my mom said, when she was pregnant with me, unfortunately her dad passed away a couple months earlier, so now whenever it’s my birthday, she knows it reminds her of when her dad passed.”
And Melifonwu offered the pronunciation of his first name.
“You say it, ‘ee-FAH-too, ee-FAH-too,’ ” he said, “but usually, mostly everyone calls me ‘Iffy.’ ”
To pronounce Melifonwu, well, just take it back to elementary school and sound it out.
The one iffy aspect of signing Iffy for the Dolphins could be his injury history, but general manager Chris Grier is never shy about finding a bargain for a solid player when healthy because he’s been injured in the past.
That’s what Miami got in inking him for up to $4 million next season. Because Melifonwu, a former third-round pick in 2021 out of Syracuse, emerged as a starter in the Detroit Lions secondary at the end of each of the past two seasons and provides versatility in defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s scheme.
As star cornerback Jalen Ramsey has been Weaver’s “ultimate chess piece,” capable of moving around in different positions, Melifonwu can complement Ramsey in that regard.
With the Lions, Melifonwu, originally a cornerback, lined up at deep safety, could come down into the box, cover the slot as a nickel cornerback or go out wide on the boundary.
“From seeing me play in Detroit, I just feel like my size and speed and coverage ability and being able to tackle and blitz can really help anyone’s defense in general,” Melifonwu said.
“So I’m just excited to see where I’ll play, how they’ll use me. Haven’t really got the opportunity to fully talk about that in depth, so I’m just excited and anywhere they decide to put me I’ll be happy. I’m just ready to go out there and compete.”
Beyond Weaver’s blessing, Dolphins defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach Brian Duker was with Melifonwu in Detroit for his first three professional seasons and watched his ascension, which began in earnest to wrap up the 2023 season.
Melifonwu started six games that year, plus the Lions’ three postseason games. In the regular season, he had two interceptions, eight pass deflections, three sacks and 33 tackles.
As the Miami safety group lost Jevon Holland in free agency and may not have veteran Jordan Poyer back, the Dolphins brought in Melifonwu and ballhawk Ashtyn Davis, to go with returning safeties Elijah Campbell and rising second-year player Patrick McMorris.
The move for Melifonwu certainly had Duker’s hands all over it, as the 6-foot-3, 210-pound defender knows he’ll have to earn his starting spot.
“I’ve proved what I can do, and people have seen it and my coach, coach Duker, when he was there when I was at the Lions, he’s seen it firsthand,” Melifonwu said.
“I know I’m still going to have to go out and compete and earn a starting spot, and I’ve never really had anything handed to me even since Syracuse days. So I’m excited for that opportunity but I definitely feel like as a starter there’s things that I can bring to this defense and have an impact on the defense.”
After that big 2023 season, Melifonwu started last year with an ankle injury that had him on injured reserve. Then, as he was set to return, a finger ailment put him back on IR. He ended up back to start the final three regular-season games and the playoff loss to the Washington Commanders.
His injury history is certainly a concern, but it’s something he attributes to bad luck with them, while he tries to control every controllable when it comes to injury prevention.
“Sometimes, it’s luck, to be honest,” he said. “Some stuff I had, like tackle and I got rolled up on with my ankle facing up. Sometimes it’s just pure luck.
“But there’s definitely stuff I’ve approached this offseason with my trainer and nutrition-wise and different stuff like that to help prevent injuries going forward.”
In addition to signing Melifonwu and Davis, the Dolphins are linked to top safeties in mock drafts. At cornerback, they released Kendlal Fuller but have Ramsey back with Kader Kohou tendered as a restricted free agent. They also signed veteran Artie Burns, who can play both the boundary and slot while returning youngsters in Cam Smith and Storm Duck also vie for playing time.
