The Miami Dolphins‘ 7-10 season in 2025 cost a lot people jobs.
General manager Chris Grier was dismissed at the end of October amid a 2-7 start and head Mike McDaniel received his pink slip Thursday. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is expected to be replaced and the Dolphins will undoubtedly change the vast majority of the coaching staff.
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Where did it all go wrong?
These eight stats tell the story of the Dolphins’ subpar year and the few positives they can build on under a new regime:
24 turnovers
Tagovailoa’s 67.7 completion percentage, while down from his NFL-leading 72.9 percent in 2024, wasn’t far off his career average of 68 percent. His 20 touchdown passes aren’t a poor total either.
What cost him his job was his inability to avoid turnovers.
Tagovailoa threw a career-high 15 interceptions in his 14 games, second most in the NFL behind only Geno Smith. The Dolphins quarterback also fumbled eight times, which was tied for sixth most.
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As a whole, the Miami offense’s 24 total turnovers were fourth most in the NFL.
81 unanswered third quarter points
During a blowout win against the Atlanta Falcons in October, Tagovailoa connected with Jaylen Waddle on a 43-yard touchdown in the third quarter to make the score 24-3. That was the last time the Dolphins scored in a third quarter.
It feels impossible, but the Dolphins managed to score zero points in the first 15 minutes of the second half in their last nine games. They were outscored in that frame 81-0 between Weeks 9 and 18.
The consistent inability to get the Dolphins on track after halftime likely played a big role in McDaniel getting fired.
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4.7 rushing yards per attempt
Despite the Dolphins’ investment at the guard spots mostly blowing up in their face, the run game got back on track. With James Daniels gone for all but the first three offensive snaps of the year and Jonah Savaiinaea making a case for NFL’s worst offensive lineman, the Dolphins’ 4.7 yards per carry ranked fourth in the league. During the 2024 season, Miami averaged 4.0 yards of rush attempts, which was fourth worst.
1,838 yards from scrimmage for De’Von Achane
Miami’s efficiency in the run game was mostly a credit to Achane taking his play to the elite tier.
Achane’s 5.7 yards per carry led the NFL and he finished the season with 1,350 rushing yards and 488 receiving yards. His 1,838 yards from scrimmage were second most in a single season in Dolphins history.
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Backup running backs Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon averaged 4.1 and 2.8 rushing yards per attempt, respectively. Every Dolphins player other than Achane collectively averaged 3.6.
4.8 rushing yards allowed per attempt
As effective as the Achane-led rushing attack was, the Dolphins was almost exactly as inefficient.
Only four teams allowed more rushing yards per attempt than the Dolphins in 2025. Along the way, Miami allowed seven of its opponents to record at least 150 rushing yards and two to eclipse 200.
183 Jordyn Brooks tackles
Like Achane on the offensive side, the Dolphins’ clear bright spot on defense was Brooks.
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His 99 solo tackles and 183 total tackles both led the NFL. Brooks added 13 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three pass deflections, and one forced fumble. While that somehow wasn’t enough for a Pro Bowl nod, it solidified Brooks as the leader of the Dolphins defense.
5 losses by 3+ touchdowns
Perhaps more jobs would’ve been spared if the Dolphins weren’t blown out of the water so many times. In half of their losses, Miami was so thoroughly outclassed that owner Stephen Ross had no choice but to feel “comprehensive change” was a must.
In losses to the Colts, Browns, Ravens, Bengals, and Patriots, the Dolphins lost by more than 21 points.
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20 fourth down conversions allowed
The Dolphins defense was one of eight to allow at least 20 of its opponents’ fourth downs tries to be converted. The other seven all faced at least 32, but Miami allowed that to happen on only 28 fourth down attempts.
What does that tell us? In the games the Dolphins managed to keep close, the defense couldn’t make the big plays.
Dolphins opponents rushed on 11 of those 28 fourth down tries and averaged 7 yards per attempt. When opposing quarterbacks dropped back, they completed 80 percent of their throws and had a 121.7 passer rating.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: 8 stats that tell the story of the Dolphins’ 2025 season
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