Multiple moves made by the Miami Dolphins this offseason caused some members of the NFL community to suggest that new Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and new head coach Jeff Hafley are essentially “tanking” the 2026 season with the 2027 NFL Draft in mind.
During a recent appearance on the “Pro Football Talk Live” program, Sullivan addressed whether or not he is doing all he can to make the 2026 Dolphins a competitive side.
GM: “False” to stay Dolphins don’t want to win next season
Per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk, Sullivan insisted that it is “false” to say he is already accepting that the 2026 season is a lost cause for the Dolphins. Sullivan also acknowledged that he and Hafley have found themselves in “a unique situation” that has involved parting ways with former starters such as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, pass-rusher Bradley Chubb and wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
As NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated previously mentioned, Sullivan has taken on $175M in dead-cap charges as part of his roster restructuring. That may prove to be beneficial regarding the Dolphins’ long-term future, but it understandably has some Miami fans ready to punt on the bulk of the club’s next 17 regular-season games.
Jon-Eric Sullivan sends message to those convinced the Dolphins won’t try to win games this fall
“I have incredible faith in Jeff Hafley’s ability to lead,” Sullivan said during the interview. “I know that he and his staff will have this team ready to play, and we’re going to show up and compete. Where it goes, it goes. We’ll build this thing out for the future, but we’re here to win now as well. Make no mistake about it.”
Such a vote of confidence may not mean much to the rival general manager who recently told NFL insider Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom US that the Dolphins seem to lack “a starting NFL offense” on paper. Perhaps quarterback and free-agency signing Malik Willis will prove to be a revelation for the Dolphins and guide the club on what will become a stunning run.
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