The Phinsider
As we continue to inch closer and closer to the beginning of the Miami Dolphins regular season on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, team leaders continue to speak about a culture shift happening within the storied South Florida franchise.
Tuesday night, the Dolphins released the inaugural episode of their behind-the-scenes YouTube show, Under the Sun.
Within the first few minutes, Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa began talking about how the 2025 version of the Dolphins differs from past versions coached by Mike McDaniel.
“I would say I’m pretty excited about the challenges that we’re going to see. I want to see how, through adversity, our team responds.”
The 27-year-old continued:
“This year, it definitely feels as if it’s more of a player led team. I think that the leaders, this year, are more engaged in what is best for the team… How we can communicate with certain individuals, the dynamic with everything, it doesn’t feel like it’s one sided. The offense is helping holding the defense accountable and vice versa with the defense holding the offense accountable. I think that’s a little unique to years past.”
Tagovailoa’s comments indicate what some have already speculated this offseason — last year’s team had players who didn’t fully buy in to what Mike McDaniel and the rest of the Dolphins coaching staff were selling. While the club shipped off multiple malcontents this offseason — albeit talented malcontents — the hope is that the result equals more of an “addition by subtraction” equation.
We won’t have to wait long to see how the recent changes have affected Miami. They play meaningful football in just four days.
