Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks won't call the 2026 year a rebuild, but he is ready to "lead the charge" on changing the narrative surrounding the team.
One of the biggest negatives attached to the Miami Dolphins is how the team has been called "soft" by the media, fans, and former players. While that is an unfair outlook considering the team has seen success, their inability to win big games or perform well in cold-weather games has not helped their case.
Those terms led to sweeping changes, which brought forth new Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. The pair worked on resetting the tone already and securing players whom they believe can turn the organization around. One such player is linebacker Jordyn Brooks, who has stated he wants to "lead the charge" in changing the narrative surrounding the team.
Sullivan, Hafley, and Brooks have not bought into the 2026 season being labeled as a "reset." Despit the numerous changes and an organizational overhaul, the linebacker, however, is dead set on changing how the Miami team is viewed.
"I don't look at it as a rebuild because I'm in it and I play the game and I realize being in the league, everybody is super talented. Um, and it's not always what it looks like on paper. You can have this superstar aesthetic teams and they don't be worth the darn, you know what I mean? Uh, they don't have the right chemistry. They don't know how to connect the dots together," Brooks said.
One thing is very certain: these Dolphins players are buying into each other and what Hafley has been trying to build. Even though training camp has just started, there appears to be a sense of playing tough.
The Dolphins played tough for Mike McDaniel, even though there continue to be stories that they were somehow lax in what they did in meetings and otherwise. The team may have finished 7-10, but there was a period where they won four straight and had people believing in the direction.
Brooks is one of the players who was with the team in 20925 and can help build on that momentum. As a defensive and team leader, that is exactly what he is setting out to do.
"Do whatever it takes to win, you know what I mean? Um, and that's showing up every day, being consistent. If there's something extra we need to do as a group, we'll do that. Whatever it takes. But um that's the biggest thing that I want to the locker room to understand is we're doing whatever it takes to win. Whatever it takes to change the narrative around here, whatever it takes to turn the page over. Um that's that's the uh that's the path that I'm taking," Brooks said.
Miami's front office sent a strong message by extending running back De'Von Achane, center Aaron Brewer, and now Brooks. The subtext of those deals was purely evident: working hard and showing up on the field will lead to an investment/
Brooks embodies the kind of work ethic that players should be following, and that includes that of Achane and Brewer. All three were at the top of their respective positions in 2025, and all three can help teach the new arrivals and rookies how to change the narrative the Dolphins have had to carry.
The Dolphins may not be a wholly successful team in 2026, but their success could be measured by how hard the players show up for and try with Hafley. Additionally, it is that passion that could lead to some surprise wins.
Nobody quite knows what the Dolphins can or can't be, and that will not be evident until the regular season starts. At the heart of that discovery will be strong players like Brooks, who can push the entire team to make some noise.
