NFL news: Winners and losers from Miami Dolphins’ 2025/26 season

The Miami Dolphins entered the 2025/26 season with familiar weaknesses, many of which weren’t adequately addressed during the offseason. 

Those flaws were exposed quickly. Miami finished the year with a 7-10 record, never truly recovering from a disastrous start that derailed any playoff hopes.

An 0-3 opening and a 1-6 record after seven games left the Dolphins chasing the season from the off. 

A brief mid-season resurgence, which saw Miami go 5-1, caused talk of a late playoff push, but it ultimately proved too little, too late.

As the Dolphins head into another pivotal offseason, Florida News Blitz writer Jake Reed offers up the biggest winners and losers from the 2025/26 season.

Winners

De’Von Achane

There has been no bigger winner than Dolphins RB De’Von Achane this season. 

Further improving on last season’s impressive performances, Achane has yet again shown he is one of the most explosive talents in the NFL. 

His elite speed has proved to be a nightmare for defences. 

Ranking fifth in rushing yards this season (1350) and fourth in yards per game (114.9), Achane picked up 12 touchdowns across the season. 

In a season that saw Miami’s passing threat often stall, Achane usually felt like the only player capable of injecting life into the offense, both as a runner and receiver. 

His constant presence forced opponents to account for him on every snap.

Jaylen Waddle

It has been by no means a vintage season for Jaylen Waddle, but in a season where Tua Tagovailoa struggled to make any impact, Waddle still provided a solid receiving outlet -  amassing 910 receiving yards across the season.

The wide receiver has dealt with fitness issues all season, and because of that, his performances have been inconsistent. 

But let’s be honest, which Miami players have been consistent?

There will be talk of potential trades involving Waddle this offseason to bring in stronger draft picks, but even in a down year, he remained one of Miami’s only threats on offense.

Jordyn Brooks

It has been clear all season how poor the Dolphins' defence has been, but one man who can’t be blamed for those issues is Jordyn Brooks. 

As of writing, Brooks leads the NFL in combined tackles and solo tackles at 183 and 96. 

Brooks’ performances put him among the strongest linebackers in the NFL. 

Speaking on Brooks in December, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said, “He’s relentless. He’s tough; you’re rarely given the gift of being on a team with a person so focused, so tough-minded, so ruthless.

“After doing that for a lot of days, he became one of the main pillars, became a captain.”

Tyrel Dodson

Tyrel Dodson is another name that comes to mind when thinking about some of the best linebackers in the league this season. 

Alongside Brooks, Miami has one of the most impressive linebacker partnerships in the league, despite its overall weak defence. 

Averaging 7.6 tackles per game and 4.2 solo tackles per game, Dodson has proved to be a reliable man in the defence and one of the leading reasons for the mid-season defensive turnaround for the Dolphins.

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Losers

Tua Tagovailoa 

It has been a season to forget for Miami’s QB Tua Tagovailoa. All signs increasingly point to this being the end of the Hawaiian’s time in Miami after a disappointing season saw him rank 29th in passing yards per game at 190.

Tagovailoa stole the headlines on Monday when asked if he was hoping for a fresh start next season. 

The quarterback responded with: “That would be dope. I would be good with it.” Then, he added that he understood the question was about playing elsewhere.

Benched for the final three games of the season in favour of Quinn Ewers, it seemed clear even before these comments that he may be on his way out. 

These comments are certainly enough to make it clear now.

NFL fans know the talent Tagovailoa possesses, but recent form makes it seem like the right time to depart and the best option for both the player and the team.

Mike McDaniel

It has been a season of two halves for the Miami Dolphins under Mike McDaniel - the mid-season turnaround was impressive. Still, the consensus among fans is that McDaniel’s fate for 2026 is uncertain.

McDaniel has often been praised for his offensive creativity, and that could even be seen this season when the game plan was altered after it became clear passing plays couldn’t be relied upon. 

Yet, when a game gets tough, Miami always seems to crumble. 

McDaniel often appears overwhelmed, and that translates into team performance. Lifeless second halves send a message of a lack of urgency.

There is potential for McDaniel to still be the Dolphins coach in 2026, but a losing record in back-to-back seasons and an overall record of 35-33 have led to many fans believing it’s time for a change.

Second-half displays

One of the most significant issues for the Miami Dolphins hasn’t been a player but their record in the second half, particularly the third quarter.

The Dolphins’ third-quarter record is the worst in the NFL, as they have been outscored 81-0 in the quarter across their last nine games of the 2025 season. 

As seen throughout the season, when pressure mounts, the Dolphins offer little response. 

It was seen as clear as day in Miami’s last game of the season against the New England Patriots. The Dolphins headed into halftime only 17-10 down after a competitive first half. 

Yet any chance of a competitive fixture went out the window after a disastrous second-half performance saw them go 0-14 in the third quarter and 0-7 in the fourth, resulting in a 38-10 blowout.

The issue looks more like a mentality problem than a tactical issue, raising concerns around McDaniel’s leadership qualities.

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