Miami Dolphins players better take notice; there is new leadership running things in Miami now, and if you don't like it, tough.
The Dolphins introduced Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan on Thursday. Both share the same mindset from their time in Green Bay. Both want to bring a culture that is built around physical toughness, but also discipline, self-accountability, and, of course, winning.
It didn't take long for Hafley to send a message to the team, and it was as direct as it could be.
Jeff Hafley's message to the Miami Dolphins players comes at a time when accountability was at an all-time low
Dolphins players sat in the seats inside the Dolphins' practice facility. It was the first time, according to Miami Herald's Omar Kelly, that he recalls happening. It was a show of respect, but also curiosity. Hafley didn't mention players by name, nor did Jon-Eric Sullivan, who made it crystal clear what Hafley is going to expect.
🎥 Jon-Eric Sullivan on Jeff Hafley: "It's going to be the hard way. If you don't want to be part of it... you're going to have to get off the train, it's going to be an uncomfortable environment for you, and he's not afraid to be uncomfortable." (@MiamiDolphins) #PhinsUp pic.twitter.com/0eGCnKPlK9
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) January 22, 2026
After four years of Mike McDaniel tiptoeing around his players, holding them accountable, Sullivan and Hafley made it clear that they will be holding them accountable. Miami is entering a new era of football, but will it succeed?
It's easy to talk a big game, but if you can't bring it to the field, nothing will change. The first step is to weed out the players that don't fit the mold. Both of Miami's new power duo come from the same cloth, and they want players that have the same drive they saw in players in Green Bay.
There may not be a lot to do in Green Bay during the winter months, but that isn't the case in Miami. Sullivan said he believes that Miami has a lot to offer players. It's appealing. He isn't lying, but keeping players from getting into trouble has been a problem for the Dolphins.
Sullivan said that it will be important to find the right players who won't get distracted by the South Florida culture. That has been a problem with the Dolphins for years. It's one of the reasons why there are so many failures. The distractions are hard to avoid.
That is going to be one of Miami's biggest tasks. It won't be easy, but at least the new coach and GM recognize it as a problem