The Dolphins hit reset: a new coach, a new quarterback, and a full rebuild in Miami

The Miami Dolphins are starting over. After years built around an explosive but ultimately unfulfilled core, Miami tore it down this offseason, moving on from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, receiver Tyreek Hill, and receiver Jaylen Waddle, and handing the franchise to first-time NFL head coach Jeff Hafley. This is a full rebuild, and the Dolphins aren't pretending otherwise.

A new voice and a new direction

Hafley, a defensive-minded coach, inherits a roster stripped of its most recognizable names and tasked with building a new identity. The dramatic teardown signals a front office that decided the previous era had run its course, and that a clean reset offered a better path than trying to patch a formula that never delivered in January.

The quarterback question

With Tua gone, Miami turned to Malik Willis, signed in free agency, to lead the offense — Hafley has a connection to Willis from their overlapping time in Green Bay. Willis flashed accuracy in limited work as a backup, and Miami is betting the change of scenery and opportunity bring out more. It's a low-cost gamble that fits a rebuilding team's timeline. The Dolphins did retain some talent, re-signing running back De'Von Achane to anchor the offense, and edge rusher Bradley Chubb returns after a solid comeback season.

Building for the future

Miami's draft leaned toward the future, headlined by a trade up for cornerback Chris Johnson at No. 27 — a fast, ascending defensive back Hafley identified as a favorite. Most of the Dolphins' free-agent additions were short-term, opportunity-based deals, the profile of a team gathering value and evaluating rather than chasing wins now.

Season outlook

Expectations are low — Miami's win total sits among the lowest in the league, and a difficult schedule offers little relief. But that's not really the point of 2026. This season is about establishing Hafley's culture, evaluating Willis and the young roster, and stockpiling for a rebuild that will take time. The Dolphins are at the bottom of a top-heavy AFC East, and the honest goal is progress and clarity, not contention. The teardown was decisive; now comes the slow work of building something new.