The Miami Dolphins’ Direction Is Crystal Clear

The Miami Dolphins’ Direction Is Crystal Clear

When Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley tells ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith that success for the 2026 Dolphins will not be measured by wins and losses, some fans may be disappointed.

Some fans would have wanted to hear Hafley say that success would be defined by a playoff win or a deep postseason run.

Yet Hafley was brutally honest about the 2026 season and expressed a completely realistic expectation.

Instead of using the word “rebuild,” Hafley said the same thing but in different words.

The 2026 team is composed of rookies and very young players who will need time and game experience to develop into a competitive team.

Whether that happens as early as the 2027 season remains to be seen, but the direction of this team is clear.

The average age of the current roster is barely 25, and rookies or second- and third-year players are expected to start at both the offensive and defensive lines, as well as at linebacker, wide receiver, cornerback, safety, and tight end.

You could even argue that our starting quarterback is also very green at his position, given his limited starter experience.

On the latest podcast “Out to Pasture,” hosted by former Dolphins defensive end Kim Bokamper, guest Dave Hyde, a sports columnist who covers the Dolphins in depth, said that Las Vegas had lowered the “over/under” of wins from 4.5 to 3,5.

That is a very realistic expectation for 2026.

We won’t enjoy a playoff win this year, or likely even come close to making the playoffs, but we can enjoy a young team eager to prove themselves, improve
throughout the year, and gain invaluable experience.

My early prediction back in July was that the Dolphins would wind up with a 4-13 record in 2026, with either the Dolphins or the New York Jets finishing last in the AFC East.

And according to the Vegas prognosticators, 4 wins might be a bit too generous.

When Hafley, in that same interview with Stephen A. Smith, said, “We are going to build this right,” he is signaling a multi-year plan to finally take the Miami Dolphins to the promised land.

As many have expressed in multiple venues, “Trust the Process.”