The Miami Dolphins' 2026 schedule will be released on May 14, featuring a young roster under first-year head coach Jeff Hafley. The team aims to improve significantly after 26 years without a playoff win.
Key points
Miami Dolphins' 2026 schedule release date is May 14.
Jeff Hafley is the first-year head coach.
Team will have at least 13 rookies.
Dolphins have not won a playoff game in 26 years.
Focus on building a strong foundation for future seasons.
Mentioned in this story
Jeff HafleyMalik WillisDe'Von Achane
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins' 2026 schedule will be released on Thursday evening, May 14.
First-year head coach Jeff Hafley, quarterback Malik Willis and running back De'Von Achane will attempt to dramatically exceed extremely low expectations for the 2026 season.
The Dolphins have not won a playoff game in 26 years.
Miami will use at least 13 rookies and figure to have the youngest roster in the NFL. Hafley plans to build a strong foundation so the team can be more physical and perform better on the road, against good opponents, on national television and in cold conditions.
The Dolphins may be playing a game against the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City.
The NFL will announce its International Games on Wednesday, May 13, at 9 a.m. ET on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football."
Sep 20, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Caleb Douglas (5) makes a catch against Utah Utes cornerback Blake Cotton (16) and linebacker Johnathan Hall (7) during the third quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Q&A
When will the Miami Dolphins' 2026 schedule be released?
The Miami Dolphins' 2026 schedule will be released on Thursday evening, May 14.
Who is the head coach of the Miami Dolphins for the 2026 season?
Jeff Hafley is the first-year head coach of the Miami Dolphins for the 2026 season.
How many rookies will the Miami Dolphins have in 2026?
The Miami Dolphins are expected to use at least 13 rookies in the 2026 season.
What challenges does the Miami Dolphins face in the 2026 season?
The Dolphins aim to improve their performance on the road, against strong opponents, and in cold conditions while trying to end a 26-year playoff win drought.
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Sep 20, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Caleb Douglas (5) is tackled by Utah Utes cornerback Smith Snowden (2) during the second quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Oct 25, 2025; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Caleb Douglas (5) makes a catch against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images
Oct 18, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Caleb Douglas (5) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Texas Tech's Caleb Douglas makes a catch against UCF during a Big 12 Conference football game, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Nov 8, 2025; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Caleb Douglas (5) catches a touchdown against Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Therrian Alexander III (1) in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images
Texas Tech's Caleb Douglas runs after a catch against UCF during a Big 12 Conference football game, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Nov 1, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Caleb Douglas (5) celebrates scoring a touchdown in the third quarter against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images
Nov 29, 2025; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Caleb Douglas (5) makes a catch and runs for extra yards during the second quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas Tech wideout Caleb Douglas (WO19) does a flip during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas Tech wideout Caleb Douglas (WO19) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas Tech wideout Caleb Douglas (WO19) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
1 / 12
Meet Caleb Douglas, receiver drafted by Miami Dolphins
Sep 20, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Caleb Douglas (5) makes a catch against Utah Utes cornerback Blake Cotton (16) and linebacker Johnathan Hall (7) during the third quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
1 / 12
Meet Caleb Douglas, receiver drafted by Miami Dolphins
Sep 20, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Caleb Douglas (5) makes a catch against Utah Utes cornerback Blake Cotton (16) and linebacker Johnathan Hall (7) during the third quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
2 / 12
Meet Caleb Douglas, receiver drafted by Miami Dolphins
Sep 20, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Caleb Douglas (5) is tackled by Utah Utes cornerback Smith Snowden (2) during the second quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
3 / 12
Meet Caleb Douglas, receiver drafted by Miami Dolphins
Oct 25, 2025; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Caleb Douglas (5) makes a catch against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images
4 / 12
Meet Caleb Douglas, receiver drafted by Miami Dolphins
Oct 18, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Caleb Douglas (5) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
5 / 12
Meet Caleb Douglas, receiver drafted by Miami Dolphins
Texas Tech's Caleb Douglas makes a catch against UCF during a Big 12 Conference football game, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
6 / 12
Meet Caleb Douglas, receiver drafted by Miami Dolphins
Nov 8, 2025; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Caleb Douglas (5) catches a touchdown against Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Therrian Alexander III (1) in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images
7 / 12
Meet Caleb Douglas, receiver drafted by Miami Dolphins
Texas Tech's Caleb Douglas runs after a catch against UCF during a Big 12 Conference football game, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
8 / 12
Meet Caleb Douglas, receiver drafted by Miami Dolphins
Nov 1, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Caleb Douglas (5) celebrates scoring a touchdown in the third quarter against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images
9 / 12
Meet Caleb Douglas, receiver drafted by Miami Dolphins
Nov 29, 2025; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Caleb Douglas (5) makes a catch and runs for extra yards during the second quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
10 / 12
Meet Caleb Douglas, receiver drafted by Miami Dolphins
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas Tech wideout Caleb Douglas (WO19) does a flip during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
11 / 12
Meet Caleb Douglas, receiver drafted by Miami Dolphins
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas Tech wideout Caleb Douglas (WO19) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
12 / 12
Meet Caleb Douglas, receiver drafted by Miami Dolphins
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas Tech wideout Caleb Douglas (WO19) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Dolphins will have the 2nd-toughest schedule in the entire NFL in 2026, according to analysis by Warren Sharp, who used projected win-loss records of opponents.
Teams can play a maximum of sixs standalone prime time games. The Miami Dolphins were scheduled for five nationally televised games during the 2024 season and six in 2025. Miami is unlikely to have many prime time games in 2026, with expectations so low.
May 8, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley works with his players during rookie minicamp at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
May 8, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley works with his players during rookie minicamp at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Dolphins predictions, picks: How many games will Miami win?
The early over-under on wins, as set by Bet MGM, has Miami at 4.5 wins.
They have Buffalo at 10.5 wins, New England at 9.5 and the Jets at 5.5.
In 10 recent NFL mock drafts for 2027, all 10 projected Miami to have the first or second overall pick.
Most experts are predicting Miami to finish between 3-14 and 5-12.
One ESPN analyst has projected the Dolphins at 2.5 wins, which would be 2-15 or 3-14.
It would be nice if three of these road games - Denver, Green Bay, Buffalo, New England, Jets - were played in September or October and not November or December.
The Dolphins have historically struggled in cold conditions.
It might be helpful if the Dolphins were to avoid facing, say, four or five Super Bowl contenders in the first five or six weeks of Hafley's tenure.
