One of the best Miami Dolphins insiders shares his insight on the ultimate root of the problems that sunk the last regime in South Florida
If anyone were to know how things went sideways with the Miami Dolphins, it would be Jeff Darlington…
All eyes in South Florida are on the Miami Dolphins. The new regime is getting things rolling with their first training camp — a team picking up the pieces of an ambitious build that shattered in 2025.
As a result, the roster in Miami is stocked full of new names. Cheap names. And young names. It’s a dramatic effort to get out from under the weight on the end of the Chris Grier/Mike McDaniel marriage. But with eyes looking ahead, one of the most important South Florida insiders offered us one last look back. ESPN’s Jeff Darlington joined ‘The Dive Bar’ podcast at the end of last week and shared his opinion on the ultimate root of the problems that sunk the Dolphins. It’s worth hearing.
NFL insider Jeff Darlington shares his opinion on how it all fell apart for the Miami Dolphins
“One of the things that several years ago I really liked turned out to be something that was just not the right fit, at all. I really thought that the combination of Grier and and McDaniel was going to be good. I know that sounds so cringey now. But what I think I underestimated was, I liked the idea of of Grier being the type of guy to go out and find the players that a coach needs. And a guy like Mike McDaniel, who’s such a brilliant football mind, can tell you what he needs.
But what I I think I underestimated is the idea that someone like Mike in that role probably also needs to be told that ‘no, we’re not going to do that.’ … it’s a condemnation of of the way that things were being decided where Grier is saying, “Well, (MIke) wants him. Let’s do it. Let’s sign him” and sort of push that burden on him…I just thought that Chris became too much of a ‘I’ll get Mike whatever he needs and if it doesn’t work out, well that’s on Mike.’”
— NFL insider Jeff Darlington on what went awry with the Dolphins on ‘The Dive Bar
Everyone’s got an opinion on what happened to the Miami Dolphins. I guarantee you I’ll get at least one response to this story on social media of someone insisting that it was over the moment they drafted Tua Tagovailoa. Additionally, at least one will say they’re doomed no matter what because of ownership. But when Jeff Darlington talks, I shut up and listen. Darlington has been one of the best for Miami happenings for over a decade now.
A lesson learned for the future
Hand on my heart, I felt the same way that Jeff did back in 2022 and 2023. And I feel the same way that Darlington does now. There’s a delicate balance to a checks and balances system. That was needed as Miami continued to spurn the trenches in favor of MORE on the perimeter. ANOTHER splashy trade. It just never felt like the checks and balances was ever there. You mean to tell me you’re going to ask a young, first-time head coach if he wants to continue trading away draft picks for proven players and expect him to say no?
That two year drought of the Dolphins in the draft really did a number on this franchise. It was like watching a car crash in slow motion as things unfolded, too. No effort to re-load. No efforts to move back or facilitate more draft picks. And the roster just kept getting older. And older.
These are, thankfully, problems for yesterday’s franchise. The new, 2026 Miami Dolphins are into their first week of training camp and the end of the new era is getting smaller and smaller in the rear-view mirror. We can be thankful for that. But now, at the very least, it’s worth remembering the lessons learned as to avoid them into the future. Which is why you’ll never catch me blowing off anything Jeff Darlington has to say about the team. If anyone knows…it’d be him.
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