Seahawks' Path to Success Offers Blueprint for Dolphins

Miami can learn from Seattle's formula of hiring a defensive-minded coach, finding the right quarterback, and building through the draft.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The article examines how the Seattle Seahawks' recent success, which included a Super Bowl championship, can provide a blueprint for the Miami Dolphins to follow. It highlights the key steps the Seahawks took - hiring a defensive-minded head coach, finding the right quarterback, and building through the draft - and explains how the Dolphins can potentially replicate that approach.

Why it matters

The Dolphins have struggled to find consistent success in recent years, and this article suggests that by following a similar path to the Seahawks, they could potentially turn their fortunes around and become a contender. The insights provided could help the Dolphins make strategic decisions to improve their team and ultimately reach the promised land of the Super Bowl.

The details

The article notes that the Seahawks' journey to success didn't happen overnight, but within two years they went from out of the playoffs to Super Bowl champions. The key steps they took were: 1) Hiring a defensive-minded head coach in Mike Macdonald, who was able to connect with players and simplify the game plan; 2) Finding the right quarterback in Sam Darnold, who had a career-best season after being signed as a free agent; and 3) Drafting well, with players like Kenneth Walker III, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Byron Murphy becoming the heartbeat of the team.

  • In 2022, the Seahawks drafted Kenneth Walker III, Riq Woolen, and Charles Cross.
  • In 2023, the Seahawks drafted Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Weatherspoon.
  • In 2024, the Seahawks drafted Byron Murphy.
  • In 2025, the Seahawks drafted Grey Zabel and Nick Emmanwori.

The players

Mike Macdonald

The Seahawks' defensive-minded head coach, who was able to connect with players and simplify the game plan.

Sam Darnold

The journeyman quarterback the Seahawks signed, who turned in the best season of his career and led the team to the Super Bowl.

Jeff Hafley

The Dolphins' defensive-minded head coach, whose journey somewhat mirrors that of Mike Macdonald and who is known for his ability to simplify the game and tailor the plan to his players' skill sets.

Tua Tagovailoa

The Dolphins' current quarterback, who is owed a significant amount of money but has struggled with consistency.

Quinn Ewers

The Dolphins' unproven rookie quarterback, who had a solid three-game stint as QB1 in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“I honestly started feeling it throughout OTAs. Coach Macdonald, his leadership, I think, has gained a lot of respect from the team. You can see people respect him and listen to him. I think a part of it is he points out when he has flaws, which allows players to feel comfortable when they have flaws pointed out as well. So I think it just starts with him. It kind of just bled into the rest of the team.”

— Leonard Williams, Seahawks Defensive Tackle (ESPN)

“The biggest thing I've learned is I don't have all the answers, and if I keep listening, and I keep learning and evolving, things are going to be pretty good.”

— Jeff Hafley (Fox Sports)

“We need to get the quarterback situation in place, but we're not going to do it in an irresponsible manner, where we sacrifice building the infrastructure of this football team so that when we do find our guy, he can go be successful.”

— Jon-Eric Sullivan, Dolphins General Manager (Dolphins News Conference)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This article provides a clear blueprint for the Dolphins to follow in order to turn their franchise around, highlighting the key steps the Seahawks took to go from obscurity to Super Bowl champions in a short period of time. By hiring the right defensive-minded coach, finding the right quarterback, and building through the draft, the Dolphins can potentially replicate that success and become a contender in the NFL.