Kelly: Leadership remains a top concern for 2026 Dolphins | Opinion
Zach Thomas brought his fellow linebackers over to his home for film study sessions each week during the season to share his notes on opposing teams and players.
“He’d tell me ‘Shut up and watch,’” talkative linebacker Channing Crowder said, referring to the Hall of Famer who mentored him during their time together in the Miami Dolphins’ defense in the early 2000’s.
Chad Pennington had so much of a Pied Piper effect on his Dolphins teammates they would often approach the veteran quarterback with questions, seeking his guidance for on-field and off-field matters, even when he was Chad Henne’s backup for two seasons.
Ryan Fitzpatrick had the same kind of impact on that dismal 2019 Dolphins team, which might not have won any of its five games that season without the charismatic quarterback, who had a knack for uniting and inspiring people.
Without Calais Campbell’s leadership the 2024 Dolphins probably would have never dug themselves out of the 2-6 hole they began that season with while the starting quarterback was sidelined by a concussion. Campbell’s influential locker room presence was one of the reasons Miami didn’t move him at the trade deadline when teams offered draft picks for the veteran defensive lineman.
The point I’m trying to make with these examples is that leadership from players matters, and right now, as Miami’s roster is presently constructed in the first year of Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley’s massive roster rebuild, the Dolphins don’t have enough of it.
In some position groups — receiver, tight end, edge rushers, cornerback and safeties to be specific — the blind is leading the blind because there is no veteran presence in those rooms.
“I can’t look you in the eye and tell you there’s an older leader in every room that’s been there before and done it because we’re young and that’s just the reality of who we are,” Hafley said on Wednesday when pressed about Miami’s leadership void.
At this point, all the Dolphins have in terms of established leaders are linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson, center Aaron Brewer and offensive tackle Austin Jackson, defensive lineman Zach Sieler and tailback De’Von Achane.
The expectation is that others will step forward when they become more comfortable and start performing at a higher level on the field. But that could take some time, and might not happen at all.
Considering the roster Miami takes to next week’s mandatory minicamp features 25 rookies, and 49 players with less than three years of NFL experience, the hope is that players such as quarterback Malik Willis, offensive tackle Patrick Paul and tight end Greg Dulcich will step forward and become reliable leaders.
That is the natural progression for many veterans. Brooks is a prime example of this considering he was a quiet role player in 2024, the season he joined the Dolphins as a free agent, and then developed into the team’s alpha leader in 2025.
Sieler has also experienced a leadership evolution during the past three seasons, and now it’s his chance to bring someone along with him.
“We’re focusing on motivating these guys,” Sieler said when asked about mentoring the NFL’s youngest team heading into training camp. “Look, let’s go out there and play your best ball. Like, cut it loose. Go out there and be confident. Do what it takes, and we’ll spend the extra hours on technique, individual [work], anything you need because we want to win. We want to win now.”
And talent alone doesn’t guarantee that. Winning in the NFL requires good coaching, chemistry, bonding and leadership.
Coaches can only do so much when it comes to the final two.
Most of them have never played in an NFL game, and if we’re being honest, very few even starred on the collegiate level. So exactly how can they give guidance in real time?
That’s why player-to-player mentorship, guidance is necessary.
It’s usually the veterans who help the newcomers figure out the intricacies of being a professional athlete.
However, veterans can also contribute to young players creating bad habits, and it seems as if the Dolphins are trying to avoid that by intentionally targeting youngsters who are a blank canvas.
But who says journeyman players don’t have bad habits and share them?
Hafley claims he’s watching everything, and he has seen some youngsters, players such as defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, step up and begin to speak up.
“I think [it’s] really important for everybody to understand that there’s so many different ways to lead,” Hafley said. “It could be pulling a guy aside, it could be how you talk to a guy in your room, it could be behind closed doors bringing a guy along with you. It could be on the weekend bringing a group of the young guys out and doing something or inviting them over to a house for dinner, which we’ve had a lot of guys do.
“I’m watching every guy, I’m watching every clip of film. Then in the team room, I’m trying to show them what’s good, what’s not good enough, what can be better, and [what] won’t be tolerated,” Hafley continued. “The beautiful part right now is the guys have bought in, and they’re following.”
Let’s just hope they aren’t being led astray.
