What Must the Miami Dolphins Do to Shed the “Soft” Label?

For decades, the Dolphins have carried a reputation pinned on them by both the media and their own fans, a reputation born from an inability to beat teams with winning records, an inability to win in the cold when the season is on the line, and an organizational culture that too often seems fragile.

This stigma is magnified by history. The Dolphins have not won a playoff game since the year 2000, twenty-five years ago. That is the longest active playoff winless streak in the four major sports, and the second-longest drought of winning a playoff series, behind only the Cincinnati Reds who last did it in 1995. This is the worst company a sports franchise can keep. For Miami, every “glimmer of hope,” every “different feeling” ends the same way, disappointment and the eternal “what if?”

Maybe the label sticks because it is an easy punchline about an aquatic mascot, but there is plenty of evidence fueling the consensus. The Dolphins have beaten their division rival Buffalo Bills only once in the Mike McDaniel era. They are 2-13 in games played at 40 degrees or below since 2014, the worst mark in the NFL. They consistently struggle against playoff-caliber teams. To make matters worse, their offensive identity has been framed around speed and finesse, which feeds the narrative, especially when the team falters in short-yardage situations or when their star quarterback’s durability is questioned.

But the truth is the “soft” label is a misnomer. There are no soft teams in the NFL. Every player is among the toughest athletes in the world, forged by years of grueling practices and sacrifices to reach the highest level. The Dolphins’ issues are not about toughness. They are systemic. They are the result of bad coaching hires, poor roster management, injuries, and instability at the most important position in sports.

The revolving door at quarterback tells the story as clearly as anything. Since Dan Marino retired, Miami has tried Jay Fiedler, Gus Frerotte, Daunte Culpepper, Chad Pennington, Chad Henne, Ryan Tannehill, Jay Cutler, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and now Tua Tagovailoa, among others. Coaches have come and gone just as quickly: Dave Wannstedt, Nick Saban, Cam Cameron, Tony Sparano, Joe Philbin, Adam Gase, Brian Flores, and now Mike McDaniel. Every regime promised to be the one that changed the culture, yet the cycle always reset after a few disappointing years.

To shed the label, Miami has to do more than talk about being tougher. They need to build a culture that values accountability, resilience, and execution. That means not just flashing speed in September but winning games in December, on the road, against playoff teams. It means proving they can win at the line of scrimmage and not wilt when conditions are not perfect.

Signs of progress are beginning to show. Reports this offseason have pointed to players staying after practice, locker room problems being addressed, and strong leaders added to a young core. These are the right steps. But until the Dolphins finally win in January, the perception will not change.

The “soft” label is not about individual players. It is about twenty-five years of dysfunction. The only way to silence it is not with words, but with wins. A playoff victory is the only answer. Until that happens, fair or not, the narrative will live on.

******

Use the code FIVE at PrizePicks.com for $50 to play fantasy sports.