Your 2026 Miami Dolphins Might Soon Flirt With Imperfection
Winning was not the goal for the 2026 Miami Dolphins, but neither was a winless season.
The Miami Dolphins, having just lost their star running back to a season ending injury and under a first-year head coach, are potentially flirting with a winless season.
This statement worked in 2007, and sadly, it works in 2026.
Rebuild: Stage 1
The Miami Dolphins were aggressive in their rebuild this offseason. The 2026 Dolphins have the most dead cap money in the history of the NFL, at just over $180 million tied up to names like Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Tua Tagavailoa, Bradley Chubb, Jalen Ramsey, and more, who will not be donning the aqua and orange this season. The roster handed to new coach Jeff Hafley, who, along with new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and new QB Malik Willis, come over from Green Bay, is easily the worst in the league. Rookies and waiver wire pickups fill the starting lineup; this team matches up well against the scab team from The Replacements, and no one else.
But while the Washington “Sentinels,” led by QB Shane Falco (Keanu Reeves) and head coach Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman) managed to surprise people, these Dolphins will very likely not. As De’Von Achane’s season ended with a torn ACL, much how Ronnie Brown’s did in 2007, so too does Miami’s best chance at winning a few games this season.
Point of No Return?
I don’t know how a regime comes back from 0-17. How can you establish a winning culture with that kind of first impression? Chuck Noll, in 1969, went 1-13 in his first season at the helm for the Steelers. Jimmy Johnson went 1-15 in 1989, in his first year on the Cowboys sidelines. Those are about the only two success stories of head coaches with all-time bad first seasons. Brian Flores’s first year as head coach in 2019 featured a similarly barren roster, and he managed to coax five wins out of them. Can Jeff Hafley do the same? Without his best player?
The Miami Dolphins have had competitive moments so far. The defense is playing hard, especially with the amount they've had to be on the field. They're just young and inexperienced. The offense is hapless and will now go forth without Achane, far and away the biggest star on that side of the ball. With Achane, they've scored 36 points through three games, tied for the least in the NFL. Without him? What are we looking at here?
The lightning of Achane out of the backfield will be replaced by the thunder of Ollie Gordon and Jaylen Wright. 2nd and 7 is now a win for this offense. Three yards and a cloud of dust. Keep the opposing defense on the field. Rookie wide receivers Chris Bell and Caleb Douglas haven't shared the field much so far, but they soon will. There's a lot of talent between them, but unfortunately, the offensive line (currently ranked 25th via PFF) isn't affording Malik Willis much time. It is highly unlikely they will ever be favored in a game this season; several things need to line up right for them to win a game. To give you the thesis statement, a lot has to break right across four quarters in order for the Miami Dolphins to win a football game.
Where Have You Gone. Greg Camarillo?
I can still remember Greg Camarillo catching a Cleo Lemon pass and streaking down the field for the game-winning touchdown against the Ravens, in the Dolphins’ lone victory of 2007. It was euphoric. I pray these Dolphins can grant us a similar sense of relief, and hopefully not wait until Week 15 like the '07 team. I would like the right to simply chalk this up to a bad season, and not one for the record books.
Best of luck to you, Coach Hafley. Your 2026 Miami Dolphins might soon flirt with imperfection.
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