NFL: Dolphins Release Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb, and Others in Roster Shakeup

• The Miami Dolphins have released Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb, and others in a major roster shakeup
• Miami’s new football braintrust, GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley, have wasted little time in dumping longtime stalwarts
• The moves free up cap space and dramatically alter the locker room from what it was under GM Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel
• More cuts/trades are coming with QB Tua Tagovailoa almost assuredly heading for the NFL free agent market

These Changes Were Inevitable in Miami

Say this for the Dolphins: They try to construct a roster based on the coach’s style.

Obviously, it hasn’t worked. They haven’t won a playoff game in 26 years. They haven’t been to a Conference Championship Game since 1992 when Don Shula was the head coach and Dan Marino was the quarterback. And they have not been to a Super Bowl since Marino’s record-breaking sophomore season in 1984-85. The 49ers blew them out.

Both Shula and Marino thought it was the first of many trips to the Big Game. They never got back.

They’ve cycled through superstar coaches like Jimmy Johnson and heads of football ops like Bill Parcells. Hot younger names Adam Gase and Brian Flores didn’t work out despite some success. They adhered to new trends with McDaniel.

None of it has worked.

Now, they’re moving forward with former Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley taking charge. Sullivan and Hafley are veterans of the Packers’ way of doing things. It’s a sharp contrast from what they’ve been doing.

With that, the failed nucleus under McDaniel is being cleared out.

Wide receiver Tyreek Hill, linebacker Bradley Chubb, guard James Daniels, and wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine were all released, saving substantial money and letting Sullivan and Hafley bring in people who better fit their scheme.

They’re clearly not done with QB Tua Tagovailoa and, presumably, receiver Jaylen Waddle and tight end Darren Waller on the chopping block.

Expect a Different Attitude From the New Regime

As much as the Dolphins lit up the sky when they were clicking under McDaniel and his innovative, speed-based offense, too often, they were inept, particularly in cold weather. Notoriously vulnerable to tougher teams that were willing to hit them, Miami epitomized mediocrity with 9-8, 11-6, 8-9, and 7-10 records.

Hafley is a former defensive coordinator with a no-nonsense look and attitude, which is a far cry from McDaniel. But they tried that with Flores. He got fired in part because of his intensity and “take no crap” sensibility.

Under Hafley, the Packers’ defense was known for its hard-hitting and ball-hawking.

Bobby Slowik will be the new offensive coordinator. Although there will be different personnel, Slowik ran a West Coast offense with the Texans. He is in the same network as McDaniel was with Kyle Shanahan, Matt and Mike LaFleur, and Sean McVay.

They have a star running back in De’Von Achane. Tua’s career is likely relegated to that of a journeyman in part because he never has a strong enough arm to account for adverse weather conditions, he was generally overrated, and his concussion history is…significant.

Sullivan spent more than 20 years in Green Bay, so his roster construction and style will mimic what has been built in Green Bay. Of course, the situation is radically different in Miami. Sullivan was with the Packers during the Brett Favre-Aaron-Rodgers-Jordan Love years. In Miami, the current QB room has:

• Tua, who’s on the way out of Miami
• Second-year, 2025 7th round draft pick out of Texas, Quinn Ewers, who physically looks the part and played ok when he took over for Tua
• Former Jets’ 1st round bust Zach Wilson
• Raiders castoff Cam Miller

Even if they believe in Ewers, they need a veteran on the roster. There are plenty available. Of course, their connection to the Packers may spark an acquisition of hot commodity Malik Willis, who replenished his value in Green Bay after flaming out with the Titans.

This is a Necessary Reboot That Will Take Time to Judge

The worst thing the Dolphins could have done was to keep the same core in place and think that a new coach and new GM would yield a different result from what they’ve had for the past…forever.

They are unlikely to ever return to the greatness of the early Shula years, from which they still have a claim to being called the best team in history.

Not only are the only undefeated Super Bowl winner in 1972 when they were 17-0 and led the NFL in both offense and defense while boasting six Pro Football Hall of Famers on the field (QB Bob Griese, FB Larry Csonka, LB Nick Buoniconti, G Larry Little, WR Paul Warfield, and C Jim Langer), as well as Shula and head of personnel Bobby Beathard.

Then they won the Super Bowl again the next year, going 15-2. Over two years, they were 32-2 with two championships.

Sticking to recent tactics was doomed to fail because it has done nothing but fail.

Until they bring in replacements for the players they just dumped, their plan is unknown. They might try to compete as they rebuild or they might accept a beating for a year as they evaluate and change the culture. Only then can their 2026 win total be gauged.

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