"Regarding reaching a Super Bowl, I think it's fair to set a goal for that to happen no later than the 2030 regular season. That'd give Sullivan and Hafley a five-year window to get their feet wet and work their magic. It wouldn't mean either or both are guaranteed to be here for five years, or that either or both should be fired if they haven't reached a Super Bowl after five years. Can it be done? Definitely. We just saw a better turnaround done in less time by Seattle, the Super Bow champs. And the Seahawks, who had back-to-back 9-8 seasons in 2022-23, did it with Geno Smith and Sam Darnold as the quarterbacks and second-year coach Mike Macdonald in charge. New England, which went 3-14 in 2023-24, rebuilt and advanced to a Super Bowl in two years. This can be done for the Dolphins."
"For me to declare the Dolphins' rebuild a success, which is a high hurdle to jump, they must win two playoff games in a postseason, whether that's a wildcard game and a divisional round game, or a divisional round game and the AFC Championship game. Winning a single playoff game, which the Dolphins haven't done since the 2000 season, meets the requirement for a good rebuild. But there's a difference between "good" and "successful." Winning a single playoff game is too low of a bar for a successful rebuild. Two playoff wins. That should be the bar for success."
The rebuild goal is to reach a Super Bowl by the 2030 regular season, giving GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley a five-year window. The five-year window does not imply guaranteed tenure or mandatory dismissal if the Super Bowl goal is unmet. Recent NFL turnarounds show rapid progress is possible, including Seattle's championship and New England's rise from 3-14 to a Super Bowl appearance in two years. A single playoff win qualifies as a good rebuild, but true success requires winning two playoff games in one postseason. Two playoff wins are the benchmark for rebuild success.
Read at Sun Sentinel
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