One overlooked element may help Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik amid team’s wholesale changes at wide receiver
We’ve been overlooking a key part of Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s history that could help in 2026.
The keys to the Miami Dolphins offense lie in the hands of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
Slowik, a Shanahan disciple with two years of play calling experience with the Houston Texans, was a member of Miami’s staff in 2025. He served as a new addition to then-head coach Mike McDaniel’s staff fresh off of those two years with the Texans. But his role was unclear. Things were already muddy with the offensive coaches BEFORE Slowik came onto the scene, with influences presumably present from Mike McDaniel, Frank Smith, and Darrell Bevell already in place. Things will be much more obvious under Jeff Hafley. This is Slowik’s show — and an overlooked part of his time in Houston is worth remembering amid questions at wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins this summer.
Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has been here before
Slowik has been here before. As the offensive coordinator for DeMeco Ryans in 2023, Slowik’s Texans offense had a first-time NFL starter in CJ Stroud playing in his rookie season. His pass catching unit featured third-year wide receiver Nico Collins, two rookie wide receivers in Xavier Hutchinson and Tank Dell, a second-year receiver (John Metchie III) who missed his rookie year after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, a career special teams contributor in Noah Brown, and a 31-year old Robert Woods.
Collins has since become an unquestioned star — a breakout that happened in part in 2023. And Tank Dell quickly proved himself to be lightning in a bottle, although injury cost him 2025. But consider the career numbers for this entire group going into 2023 and not with the benefit of hindsight.
- Nico Collins: 70 receptions, 927 yards, 3 touchdowns in 24 games (two seasons)
- Tank Dell: 0 career NFL snaps
- Xavier Hutchinson: 0 career NFL snaps
- John Metchie III: 0 career NFL snaps
- Noah Brown: 82 receptions, 980 yards, 3 touchdowns in 66 games (six seasons)
- Robert Woods: 663 receptions, 7,604 yards, 37 touchdowns in 142 games (10 seasons)
Does that read like a proven group of wide receivers? When the 2023 season came to a close, Collins posted nearly 1,300 yards. Woods, the only proven player on the roster, finished fifth in receiving yards and seventh in touchdowns (1).
Perhaps Miami’s wide receiver room manifests all of the concerns we’re focused on in May and June. But perhaps it doesn’t. The point is that with an inexperienced quarterback behind center, Bobby Slowik has been here before. And that experience should prove to be helpful for navigating this season. Even if said experience doesn’t guarantee positive results for the Miami Dolphins.
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