Jeff Hafley Reacts to Dolphins’ Preseason Loss to Washington

Jeff Hafley Reacts to Dolphins’ Preseason Loss to Washington

The Miami Dolphins opened the Jeff Hafley era Friday night with a 20-7 preseason loss to the Washington Commanders, but the final score wasn’t necessarily the biggest concern for Miami’s new head coach.

For Hafley, the first preseason game was about evaluating his roster, seeing how players responded in game situations, and identifying areas that need improvement before the regular season begins.

There were certainly some positives, especially from Miami’s starters.

Hafley Pleased With Malik Willis and Opening Drive

The Dolphins couldn’t have asked for a much better start.

Quarterback Malik Willis led Miami on a 14-play, 91-yard touchdown drive that took more than seven minutes off the clock. Willis completed 4-of-5 passes for 43 yards, while De’Von Achane capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run.

Hafley was pleased with what he saw from Willis and the starting offense, particularly the way the group operated together.

Willis looked comfortable running the offense and made good decisions with the football. His only incompletion came on a pass to rookie Caleb Douglas, who made the catch but couldn’t get both feet in bounds. Douglas later made one of the highlights of the night with a spectacular one-handed catch while drawing a defensive pass interference penalty.

After the long touchdown drive, Hafley had seen enough from Willis and pulled him along with many of Miami’s starters.

It was a small sample size, but it was an encouraging first game in a Dolphins uniform for the quarterback Miami is counting on to lead its offense in 2026.

Things Changed After the Starters Left

Unfortunately for Miami, the offense looked dramatically different once Willis and the starters came out of the game.

The Dolphins failed to score again and struggled to consistently move the football with Quinn Ewers and Cam Miller at quarterback.

Ewers had an especially difficult night, completing just one pass on eight attempts while throwing an interception. Overall, Ewers and Miller combined to complete just four of 19 passes for 66 yards with three interceptions.

The performance highlighted one of the major issues Hafley and his staff will have to evaluate over the remainder of the preseason: the depth behind Willis.

There were also protection issues along the offensive line after Miami’s starters left the game, making life even more difficult for the backup quarterbacks.

Hafley Gives Sean Duggan Credit

Hafley also discussed Miami’s defense and gave defensive coordinator Sean Duggan credit for some of his calls during the game.

Hafley said Duggan called some good defensive plays against Washington.

There were encouraging moments defensively, particularly early, and the unit showed the ability to fly to the football. Miami also responded better defensively after a difficult second quarter in which Washington scored 17 points.

But the Dolphins’ depth was tested as the game progressed.

Washington finished with two running backs putting together big performances. Rookie Kaytron Allen rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown, while Robert Henry Jr. added 75 yards and another score.

Those numbers will give Hafley and his defensive staff plenty to review as they evaluate players fighting for spots on the back end of the roster.

First Game as an NFL Head Coach

Friday night also represented a personal milestone for Hafley — his first game on an NFL sideline as a head coach.

Hafley, however, wasn’t interested in making the night about himself.

“It’s not about me. This was about our team tonight,” Hafley said when asked about the experience.

That response was consistent with Hafley’s message throughout the offseason and training camp. His focus has been on establishing the team’s identity, evaluating players and building toward the regular season rather than celebrating individual milestones.

Plenty to Build On

A 20-7 loss isn’t how Hafley would have drawn up his first preseason game, but there were enough positives to make the night worthwhile.

The biggest was Willis.

Miami’s starting quarterback looked poised, accurate and comfortable operating the offense. The starting unit put together exactly the type of drive Hafley wanted to see — long, efficient and ending in the end zone.

Douglas also continued his impressive training camp with another eye-opening play, while Achane found the end zone and the starting offensive line helped Miami march down the field on its opening possession.

The concern came after those players left.

Miami’s backup quarterbacks struggled, the offensive line depth had problems, and Washington was able to take control of the game against the Dolphins’ reserves.

That’s what preseason football is ultimately designed to reveal.

Hafley and his coaching staff now have game film to evaluate as they continue making decisions about the roster and determining which players can be trusted when the regular season begins.

The Dolphins didn’t get the result they wanted in Washington, but they did get an encouraging first glimpse of Willis and their starting offense.

For Hafley, that’s something to build on as Miami moves deeper into the preseason.