One of the Dolphins’ biggest offseason trends may feel unique, but the rest of the NFL is doing the same thing
It’s a relationships business.
The Miami Dolphins‘ newest running joke isn’t necessarily hitting home with everyone.
The “Miami Packers”, “Green Bay Dolphins”, or “Packers South” monikers become more frequent as each new former Packer becomes affiliated with Miami. And as they become more popular, they do bring some questions about how much familiarity in a new place is too much. The Dolphins general manager, head coach, defensive coordinator, several assistants, and the team’s new quarterback all hail from Green Bay. So I get the questions, I really do. But take a look around the league — this is the standard practice for most new people in high places.
Dolphins not alone in their influx of familiar faces this offseason
Brian Daboll was hired as the offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans under Robert Saleh. Tennessee, in just two days, has thrown big money at several former players who played under Daboll in New York — WR Wandale Robinson, TE Daniel Bellinger, CB Cordale Flott. And Saleh, formerly the head coach of the Giants, has seen two former Jets added this offseason in EDGE Jermaine Johnson (via trade) and DL John Franklin-Myers. There’s a lot of money and investments poured into former, familiar players.
New Giants head coach John Harbaugh was someone the Dolphins kicked the tires on this offseason. His New York team has already transplanted TE Isaiah Likely and P Jordan Stout, plus two of his three coordinators worked under him in Baltimore. Several administrative and operations hires also made the leap from Baltimore to New York, including Sam Rosengarten — the Director of High Performance. Harbaugh’s long-time offensive coordinator in Baltimore, Greg Roman, is also on staff. The changes in New York closely parallel Miami, minus a holdover GM in Joe Schoen who largely has been steamrolled by the new regime.
Let’s consider former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who is only an offensive coordinator with the Chargers this season. But his Chargers front office went out and picked up two former Dolphins from last season: FB Alec Ingold and OG Cole Strange. Both are getting significant amounts of money as players familiar with the McDaniel scheme.
Familiarity creates more predictability. It doesn’t ensure high performance — but the installation of a football operation that can offer some stability in reliability in certain roles takes out the guesswork of so many new hires. It’s not unique to Miami, it just feels like it because of how prevalent the connections are coming in South Florida for a team that is undergoing sweeping change.
Miami Dolphins News
Grading the signing: Malik Willis agrees to terms with Dolphins, will join the migration to Packers South on a three-year deal
The Dolphins’ Packers ties now run even deeper.
