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Hafley Declares 2026 a Development Year for the Miami Dolphins

The coach is prioritizing player growth, culture and a youth-led rebuild as the team finishes preseason roster decisions.

Overview

  • Jeff Hafley said he will not measure the Dolphins’ 2026 season by wins and losses and will judge success by player development, team cohesion and building a long-term identity.
  • The organizational reset began in January when new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan hired Hafley to lead a deliberate rebuild after Miami went 7-10 in 2025 and missed the playoffs for a second straight year.
  • Miami completed its preseason and has final roster decisions pending, with coverage reporting the club plans to field a relatively young roster focused on long-term growth.
  • The Dolphins made a notable quarterback change in the offseason, moving on from Tua Tagovailoa and with Malik Willis expected to take the starting role, a move that signals the team’s longer-term evaluation plan.
  • This strategy shifts short-term expectations for wins and sets up a season of evaluation that will shape personnel choices, fan reaction and how quickly the franchise can rebuild into a playoff contender.