Jaguars Wish Foley Fatukasi Happy Birthday Before Releasing Him

The Jacksonville Jaguars were always expected to release Foley Fatukasi at some point this offseason. They likely didn't think it would come on the same day the team wished him Happy Birthday on social media.

According to multiple reports on late Monday afternoon, the Jaguars made their decision on releasing Fatukasi two years after signing him in free agency.

But the reports came after the Jaguars had already wished Fatukasi a Happy Birthday on X, creating quite the firestorm on social media.

Happy birthday, 94! 🎉@FISGlobal | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/P0SyWYuZJB
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) March 4, 2024

While the optics of essentially firing a player on his birthday would never look good, there isn't much blame to pass here. Social media teams don't know when the team is going to make such moves, nor do front offices have insight into social media strategy and the scheduling of posts.

Plus, it is early March. This is when players are released as teams gear up to save extra cap space before free agency.

Still, the timing of the move will always be remembered as unfortunate.

Releasing Fatukasi saves the Jaguars $3.5 million in cap space, though the Jaguars will eat $9,233,334 in dead cap.

Fatukasi's dead cap number would be just outside the top-10 in terms of cap huts facing the Jaguars in 2024. Fatukasi was originally set to cost $12,808,334 in 2024, which would have been the fifth-highest cap hit on the Jaguars' roster.

Fatukasi battled through injuries throughout his two years in Jacksonville, though he still played in 30 games out of a possible 34, starting 29 in the process. He also appeared in both playoff games in 2022.

Fatukasi played in 14 games in 2022, starting 13. He ended the year with 24 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits.

In 2023, Fatukasi started 16 games and recorded 24 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits.

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