Team support is unwavering for me. Fan since I was 8 or so (long, long ago). The Saints are my adopted team (since they are the “home” team of where I live), but the Dolphins are truly my team forever.
What do I want to see from the management and coaching staff:
1. An urgency (yet, not in a panic) in getting the Dolphins franchise into a playoff contending track over the next three seasons. (Fan patience and support is paramount in this.)
2. Coaches need to settle the players down with the after-the-play hype. This shows me a focus on the game and doing the game right and team play, and not on the “it’s all about me, look what I did” stuff. Okay, you made a good play. Every solid play does not have to end in a Mark Gastineau celebratory tirade or 73 yard run to the cameras in the end zone only 8 minutes into the first quarter. (The Covid empty stands cameras are so old school.) Save your energy for the next play.
3. Important: Giving ALL players a chance to play and engage, avoiding judging them excessively on college or high school play reels and stats, and caving to the talking heads in Connecticut and Manhattan. Let their maturity come through by playing them in the pre-season, on the field. And, let all of the final selected players play during the regular season (since it is a rebuilding year). Evaluate them by their live play and bench conversation and interaction. Coaches (and fans) should avoid creating a popularity contest or, when things don’t go well, a “ghost of Christmas’ past” haunting of players online or in the stands, especially in 2026! Everyone starts at baseline, then let them be the men they are destined to be. (Fans need to understand and be patient with this move for coaches AND players. This is not the season for boos.)
4. For Stephen Ross: You’ve got some expert advice, let go of some old standbys who became friends rather than doers, and made some decisions. If this doesn’t work, it’s time to pass the team to other family members or sell the franchise to someone who can run the Dolphins to be successful. You’ve thrown your last Hail Mary. Hope it catches on. Your legacy is now on the line. (Fans need to hold this owner accountable.)
5. All the stops need to be let loose, JES and Haf! I don’t want to see conservative, reserved football. It gripes me to high heaven when I see coaches call plays that are so measly, especially near the ends of games when a team has a lead and tries to protect the lead with clock burning run plays alone, forgetting about first downs and maybe even a surprise aggressive play. Especially in 2026, you really have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Playoffs may be a stretch wit this schedule and rebuilding. Don’t play foolishly, but don’t hold back. Other teams should be concerned at the very least when the Miami Dolphins come around on the schedule. I want to see a new reputation established.
6. Last, if I see a collapse in December again, I am going to puke. A lot of JES and Haf’s long-term reputation will be on how long the Dolphins avoid being eliminated from playoff contention. This year, they have a lot of rope, of course, and patience is called for. That rope will get tighter in the future. But if they are contenders in future seasons on November 30 and start having more freeze-downs in December, ending up as “has-beens” by New Year’s Eve, this whole new regime thing could collapse.
Long answer, but it was a deep discussion question.