In the prime of his career, Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano was one of the best linebackers in the game. He was a First-Team All-Pro and seemed on the cusp of being a similar player to that of fellow Boston College product Luke Kuechly.
Injuries, as they seem to for many players, got in the way.
Now, Milano is fighting for his NFL livelihood in 2025. The veteran turns 31 years old next month and is entering the final year of his contract with the Bills.
It's now or never for Milano.
That is why NFL.com writer Nick Shook named the Bills linebacker as a "make-or-break" player for the upcoming season.
"Football can be a cruel game sometimes," Shook wrote. "Take the recent turn in Milano's career, for example. He finally received All-Pro recognition in 2022, only to follow it up with two injury-plagued seasons that limited him to a combined total of nine games in that stretch.
"His inclusion on this list isn't so much about preserving or capitalizing on significant earning power, but it is tied to returning strong with the only NFL team he's ever known -- a team that has Super Bowl ambitions."
If Milano is going to save his career, not only will he need to figure out a way to stay healthy for a full 17 games, but he'll need to also figure out a way to be impactful on the field as well.
It's a tall order. But if Milano wants to show he still belongs in the NFL, it will need to be done.