Ex-Dolphins player hints that culture isn’t the problem for Miami

With the Miami Dolphins having gotten off to a woeful 0-2 start to the 2025 campaign, people are looking to point fingers at who or what is responsible. Culture has been a common criticism of the Dolphins in recent years, and NFL insider Dianna Russini even indicated that Miami had some “cultural issues” during training camp.

However, one anonymous former Dolphins player who played under head coach Mike McDaniel for two seasons has hinted that culture isn’t the biggest problem for Miami. Rather, he thinks the Dolphins’ problems have to do with scheme and personnel.

“I think it’s schematic and personnel-wise that’s more of the problem than the culture,” the player told ESPN. “They’ve had the same culture for the years they were winning as they did the one down year.”

The “schematic” comment from the unidentified player could be interpreted as a shot at McDaniel and his game plans. The “personnel” comment could also be interpreted as a shot at general manager Chris Grier, who is responsible for assembling quality rosters.

McDaniel has had some talented teams at his disposal across his tenure leading Miami from the sidelines, but the Dolphins have never made the leap from good to great during his stint.

McDaniel coached the Dolphins to a playoff spot in the 2022 season before helping the team earn 11 wins and another playoff spot in the 2023 season, but Miami lost its first playoff contest in each of those seasons and is still looking for its first playoff win since 2000.

In the 2022 season, Miami lost a close playoff bout against the Buffalo Bills, who have had the team’s number in recent years. Then, in their most recent playoff appearance, the Dolphins got smoked by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2023 season by a final score of 26-7.

However, anyone who wants to see McDaniel and Grier gone sooner rather than later might want to temper their expectations in light of a recent report. A source familiar with the thinking of Dolphins owner Stephen Ross reportedly relayed to ESPN during the offseason and after Week 1 that it might not be as simple as “playoffs or bust” for McDaniel and Grier.

As doom and gloom as things look for the Dolphins right now, they could maybe recover from their subpar start with a win over the Bills on Thursday. It’s far too early to entirely count out the possibility that the Dolphins still end up being a formidable team in the AFC East this season.