The Miami Dolphins head into 2026 with a full-scale reset in motion.
New general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan is in charge of the front office, Jeff Hafley takes over as head coach, and the roster has been reshaped with a wave of veterans cut, traded or allowed to walk while younger players were brought in. The cap picture has been turned over too, with the Dolphins leaning on one-year free-agent deals and absorbing dead money now in hopes of creating more flexibility later. This is a franchise clearly playing the long game.
That approach hasn’t changed the outside expectations. Even as the Dolphins talk about competing and push back against rebuild talk, the market and the fan base are looking at this team with a much colder eye.
FanDuel Sportsbook has kept Miami’s projected win total at 4.5 throughout the offseason and into training camp. If the Dolphins finish below that number, it would be their worst season since the 1-15 collapse in 2007.
The schedule offers no easy runway.
Miami opens on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, September 13 at 4:25 p.m. from Allegiant Stadium, then heads to the San Francisco 49ers the following week for another 4:25 p.m. kickoff on FOX at Levi’s Stadium. The home opener comes in Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, September 27 at 1 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium.
From there, the Dolphins get a quick trip to Minnesota in Week 4 to face the Vikings on Sunday, October 4 at 4:05 p.m., then return home for the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, October 11 at 1 p.m. Miami’s bye lands in Week 6.
The stretch after that keeps the pressure on. The Dolphins visit the New York Jets on Sunday, October 25, then host the New England Patriots on Sunday, November 1. A road game at the Indianapolis Colts follows on Sunday, November 15, before Miami goes to Buffalo to face the Bills on Sunday, November 22.
The back half of the slate brings more division and conference tests. The Jets come to Miami on Sunday, November 29, then the Dolphins travel to Denver on Sunday, December 6. Chicago visits Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, December 13, before Miami goes to Green Bay on Sunday, December 20.
The final two games are both at home: the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, December 27, and the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, January 3.
Before the regular season begins, Miami also has a Week 3 preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 28 at 7 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium, with CBS Miami carrying the broadcast.
In Other News...
Willie Gay Jr. May Force Dolphins Into A Tough Decision
Willie Gay Jr. has spent training camp and the preseason making a case that he belongs in the Dolphins linebacker mix, even though the room already looks crowded. Miami has Jordyn Brooks, Jacob Rodriguez, Kyle Louis and Tyrel Dodson in the group, and that depth has made every snap matter for a player trying to carve out a role after a limited defensive workload last season.
Gay has helped his cause with strong practices and a preseason interception returned for a touchdown, the kind of play that reminds a staff why it liked him in the first place. But the Dolphins have also invested in younger pieces, and with the linebacker room looking deeper than most, they may have to decide whether keeping Gay is the best use of a roster spot or whether his value is higher somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Rookies Are Already Putting Veteran Roles In Real Danger
Miamis 2026 rookie class is already forcing some hard conversations in the building, even before the pads come on for real. General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan brought in 13 newcomers, but the attention is centered on a handful who could matter right away, especially on defense where a young linebacker and a versatile coverage piece are both being viewed as potential answers to real roster needs.
Jacob Rodriguez is the most intriguing name in that mix, with his background and draft status giving him a chance to climb fast if he handles the transition cleanly. Kyle Louis adds another layer because of the different ways he can be deployed in coverage, and that kind of flexibility tends to matter when a staff is sorting out roles. The bigger question now is how quickly those rookie evaluations turn into actual decisions, because the veterans around them are not exactly standing on solid ground. [Read more 🡒]
De'Von Achane Just Sent A Bold Message About Miami's New Identity
De'Von Achane is back on the practice field after dealing with offseason shoulder issues, and the timing matters for a Dolphins offense trying to reshape itself. Miami has spent the offseason talking about a more physical approach, one built around the run game and the strength up front, which is a notable shift for a team that has leaned so heavily on speed and space in recent years.
Achane has been one of the clearest believers in where this is headed, pointing to Bobby Slowiks arrival and the expected increase in rushing attempts as reasons for his confidence. For Miami, the bigger question is whether this new identity can hold up over a full season, and whether the backfield can turn that optimism into something defenses have to account for every week. [Read more 🡒]