The Miami Dolphins are building something pretty unique in South Florida. This team’s future doesn’t just ride on Xs and Os or 40-times. This Dolphins team, for the first time in a long time, seems to have a coach in the building that people genuinely want to play for — both from near and afar. Brian Flores’ impact on the Miami Dolphins and his ability to shift and mold this team’s culture had a large hand in Miami finishing the 2019 season with a 5-4 record over the team’s final 9 contests.
But beyond that, when the time came for the Dolphins to sign free agents, many of the team’s new players knew immediately that Miami was a place they wanted to call home. Former New England Patriots Ted Karras, Elandon Roberts and Kyle Van Noy all referenced the culture of Miami and the presence of Flores as a key variable in their decision.
“I respect (Flores) as a coach, what he brings to the table, what he’s all about on the field and off,” said Van Noy. “As you guys have grown to know him a little bit better, I feel like you guys are getting a sense of how he is as a person and as a coach, and you probably kind of wish you could play for him if you played football.”
Indeed, Flores’ demeanor is stern, intense but also attentive — his ability to connect with his players was a key role in the wheels not falling off for Miami in 2019. But the impact of Miami’s culture extends beyond just the man in charge. Shaq Lawson referenced defensive line coach Marion Hobby as a key variable in his decision to come to Miami.
“I just had a great relationship with (Defensive Line Coach) Marion Hobby down there. He coached me for three years of college football and he developed me into the football player I am, so that made my decision easy to go down there because I know I have guys I’m familiar with,” said Lawson.
Sure. Money was also likely a factor in many committing to play in Miami. But more importantly, players chose to come to Miami because they wanted to be here and be around the cornerstones the Dolphins have installed in the last 12 months. If that’s not the best sign yet that Miami is building the right way, then nothing is.
