Many of the Miami Dolphins’ issues over the course of the past decade can be tied back to a single variable: leadership. If you don’t have it, you know it — because the organization will work in counter-productive measures and self-sabotage their chances at success. Under Jeff Ireland, Joe Philbin and Adam Gase throughout the 2010s?
That’s exactly the issue Miami had. Men too focused on self-preservation to guide the organization through any rebuilding effort. And, in the case of both Philbin and Gase, too unable to connect with their players in a meaningful way to help boost the morale of the locker room.
Contrast that with the reception we’ve seen thus far from Brian Flores after one year on the job and there’s a clear difference. Not only does the building sense it, those on the outside can see it too.
Including Hall of Fame and Super Bowl winning head coach Tony Dungy, who spoke this past week at Palm Beach State College’s STEAM luncheon and gave Brian Flores the most glowing endorsement possible.
“I think (the Dolphins) look for a leader,” said Dungy via Hal Habib of the Palm Beach Post. “They look for somebody from a winning organization who had leadership qualities, who can direct them for a long time, and Brian Flores reminds me a lot of myself.”
If the Dolphins could only be so lucky. Dungy coached for 13 years, 7 in Indianapolis with the Colts and 6 in Tampa with the Buccaneers. Boasting a .668 win percentage, Dungy’s teams won 10+ games ten times in 13 seasons and won 9 games in the postseason over his 13 year career.
If the Dolphins can coax anything close to that out of Brian Flores, this organization will have officially returned to glory. And Dungy sees plenty of parallels in their way of doing business.
“I think it’s having convictions, having the belief in what you do and not letting other people talk you out of how you want to do things,” said Dungy, again through Habib.
“And being steadfast and persevering even if the results aren’t there right away.”
Sure sounds like story we saw unfold in South Florida throughout the course of the 2019 season, doesn’t it?
