‘Building that whole entire program.’ What Kevin Patullo brings to Dolphins
To say the Philadelphia Eagles faithful was ecstatic when the Miami Dolphins hired Kevin Patullo would be an understatement.
That’s likely because in 2025, the Eagles’ then-offensive coordinator led a unit that took a major step back amid its quest for back-to-back Super Bowl titles. Despite the presence of Super Bowl 59 MVP Jalen Hurts, 2024 offensive player of the year Saquon Barkley and All-Pro receiver AJ Brown, the offense floundered with Patullo at the helm. The team fell from the second-best rushing team in 2024 to 18th the following year and dropped to 19th in scoring and 24th in yards.
So when Patullo was recently asked about what he learned during his time with the Eagles, it’s no wonder his response stirred up the city of Brotherly Love.
“Coming with Nick [Sirianni] in 2021 and really building that whole entire program from the ground up,” the Dolphins’ passing game coordinator said, highlighting his contributions to the “culture” and the players who were brought in. “Being part of something basically from ground zero until two Super Bowls, we won one, that’s a big piece of it. I wore different hats — I was the assistant head coach, I was the offensive coordinator, I was heavily involved in the offense every year — and just understanding what it takes to get to that high level and achieve what everybody wants to achieve will really be critical going forward.”
The responses via social media, which ranged from sheer laughter to expletive-laden barbs, ultimately showcased just how much damage Patullo did to the psyche of Eagles fans across the country. And while most of the vitriol was rooted in the offense’s poor showing last season, that means little to Dolphins fans.
What does matter, however, was one, his experience in starting something from scratch, which is exactly where Miami currently finds itself, and two, how he plans to build a passing attack around a quarterback in Malik Willis who seemingly excels when the play breaks down.
“You want to help them presnap with everything so they can see as much as they can see,” Patullo said Tuesday. “Then you never want to take away that ability.”
Added Patullo: “You want to keep it in the structure of the offense and then let his ability naturally take over — whether it’s running, getting out of the pocket to throw and get explosive plays.”
In some respects, Willis mirrors Jalen Hurts in that both possess a rare mobility that has become almost a necessity in today’s NFL. That previous experience could bode well for the Dolphins.
“You got to find out what his game is and really where you want to take his game,” Patullo said. Defensive coordinators pore through film to try to take away a quarterback’s strength and maximize his weakness whereas Patullo is focused on “making those jumps” every year so that a signal-caller doesn’t become too one-dimensional. “That’s the biggest thing: taking a guy that’s got so much [talent so] he can rep and get better and just let him flourish within this system.
“I think that’s what Jalen has been able to do throughout his career, just building it around him and sure if I trust everybody, everybody’s on the same page as the quarterback. Malik has done a great job right now of just leading the offense by example, in the classroom, on the field with his physical traits and just taking that next step.”
The similarities even extend into leadership style. Hurts’ calm demeanor has been well-documented. And while Willis could always prove to be a “rah-rah guy,” the early returns from coaches and teammates suggest otherwise.
That, however, shouldn’t be viewed as a negative.
“The one trait that Jalen has, and I can see in Malik is that they understand the importance of things,” Patullo said. “So when it’s a big moment, or it’s important or wee got to be on something, you can already sense that he knows ‘Okay, this when I need to step up’ and that’s critical.
If the comparison to a one-time Super Bowl MVP wasn’t enough, Patullo then offered something that should get Dolphins fans amped for Week 1.
“That’s when you know you’ve got a real dude,” Patullo said.
