Matt Milano finished last season on the field for the [Buffalo Bills](https://www.syracuse.com/buffalo-bills/) after a torn bicep and broken leg cost hime most of the 2023 and 2024 season.
Many questions have popped up about Milano’s longterm status with the Bills and the newest change to his contract brings some clarity to his situation.
According to multiple reports, the Bills and Milano agreed to a re-worked contract on Tuesday. Milano takes a $3.6 million pay cut in 2025 and the team terminates the final year of his deal in 2026, [per Overthecap.com](https://overthecap.com/player/matt-milano/5749). That means Milano will become a free agent after the 2025 season. Milano can earn back the money he gave up if he’s able to hit the new incentives written into his deal.
The Bills need salary cap space and the $3.6 million created from Milano’s re-worked deal will help them continue to make additions to their roster. Bills general manager Brandon Beane has been busy during the first week of free agency, adding seven new players and re-signing three more.
Buffalo’s linebacker room is stocked with players. The Bills landed on a longterm extension for starting middle linebacker Terrel Bernard before the start of free agency. Buffalo also brings back third-year linebacker Dorian Williams, second-year players Edefuan Ulofoshio and Joe Andreessen, and veteran Baylon Spector.
Milano started all three playoff games for the Bills last season. He 17 total tackles and two sacks before Buffalo was eliminated in the AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Milano turns 31 before the start of next season and is entering the ninth season of his career. He was a fifth-round draft pick in Sean McDermott’s first year as head coach in 2017. Milano currently holds a $12.1 million cap figure for 2025, which is the fourth-highest on the team behind quarterback Josh Allen, left tackle Dion Dawkins, and tight end Dawson Knox.
McDermott watched on as Milano fought his way back onto the field in 2024. It was a tough mental grind. He worked back from the broken leg last offseason and then tore his bicep right before the start of the 2025 season.
"There’s a real mental component to that, of him being able to get himself back mentally that, ‘Hey, I can still do this,’ and not just do it, but do it at a high level like Matt Milano used to do," McDermott said after the season. “And I applaud him for his mental ability and his just ability to push through overall, until he found again, a rhythm that I think he said, ‘Hey, you know what, I can do this.’ And you saw that at moments, not as consistent as he once was, but going into the off season now, not needing another surgery or not having to rehab will be important for him.”
The Bills give themselves some options with Milano by reworking his deal. If he’s not able to get back to his All-Pro form in 2025, the two sides can go their separate ways after the season. Milano will surely be motivated in what is now a contract year for Buffalo next season. The Bills have solid depth at linebacker and could use one of their 10 draft picks next month to add even more talent.