Malik Willis Is Already Showing He’s a True Leader

Malik Willis Is Already Showing He’s a True Leader

It’s no secret that times have been tough for the Dolphins when it comes to the quarterback position. Many fans believed, or at least talked themselves into believing, that the search for the Man after Dan had finally come to an end with Tua Tagovailoa. The team tanked for Tua in 2019, and he was their primary starter from 2021 to 2025. 

There were certainly some moments where even the most skeptical fan became a believer. My personal favorite was the 42-38 come-from-behind victory over the Ravens in 2022. That contest saw Tua go 36-50 for 469 yards and 6 touchdowns. It really felt as if we had the quarterback of the future.

Alas, that wasn’t the case as injuries and middling play led the team to move on from Tua following the 2025 season. 

So once again, Dolphins fans must put their faith in a new quarterback, Malik Willis. Willis was once considered a top quarterback prospect ahead of the 2022 NFL draft. He would ultimately become the third quarterback off the board behind Kenny Pickett and Desmond Ridder. Willis would struggle in Tennessee, rarely appearing in games and posting a 1-2 record while throwing 0 touchdowns. 

Willis would be traded to the Green Bay Packers in 2024, where he would back up Jordan Love. He filled in admirably for Love when called upon, posting a 2-1 record while throwing for 972 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. 

When the Dolphins poached General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and Head Coach Jeff Hafley from Green Bay, it seemed likely that they would add Willis as well, who was set to become a free agent. Indeed, Miami would sign Willis to a 3-year, $67.5 million deal to become the team’s new starter. 

The move made a lot of sense. Willis was the best free agent quarterback available in terms of upside, and the new staff needed someone they could count on.

Now, Dolphins fans will have to wait and see what kind of a leader Willis will become as the undisputed number 1 guy. 

Fortunately, things seem to be off to a good start when it comes to building offensive chemistry as Willis organized an offseason workout with 20+ players. Jeff Hafley commented on the voluntary workout last month. 

“I can’t say enough about the energy, just having the players in the building.” He said. “The energy and excitement, the work ethic, those guys have been here getting after it, they had 20+ guys here on Saturday on their own accord with Malik throwing, we got a lot of really good things going on here.” 

In an appearance on Dolphins HQ, a team-produced interview show, tight end Greg Dulcich was asked about the aforementioned workout and the leadership displayed by Willis. 

“He gets the group together, he gets us fired up,” He said. “Great lead by example guy as well, he’s coming in on extra days and getting the guys together to throw and do extra work and that’s the kind of guy you want to look at and he’s leading the right way and that’s a good person to follow his example.” 

Now I get it, we’ve heard these kinds of things before with many other quarterbacks, but the fact remains that this is the kind of thing you want to see your leader do. It seems that Willis recognizes that this kind of opportunity doesn’t come around too frequently. He sees that this situation could be the best chance he has at becoming a starting quarterback for the bulk of his career and he’s not going to let it pass him by. It’s enough to give even the most pessimistic fan some hope heading into 2026.

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