MIAMI GARDENS ― There isn’t a non-kicker on the Miami Dolphins older than Zach Sieler, who is 30 and has played seven seasons with the club.
Sieler’s first season was the tear-down 2019 season under Brian Flores.
And would you believe that season actually gives him hope?
The 2026 Dolphins are offseason underdogs in 16 of 17 regular-season games.
“It doesn’t mean anything,” Sieler said, adding, “You go out there and play ball, you can win with anybody. I’ve been part of shoot that Flo (Flores) year. We weren’t supposed to be anything. We won those last few games of the season, made a great stretch. I mean, football, that’s the best part about football wise. It’s the greatest game on earth, and I love playing this game, is any team can win with any players.”
The Dolphins finished 5-11 in 2019, but ended the season 5-4 after an 0-7 start.
“It’s a combination of a chess match and coaches and players,” Sieler said. “You can have the perfect call but make a bad play. You can have a bad call, make a perfect play. And that’s what’s so incredible about this sport and I think why so many people love it.”
Dolphins schedule, betting odds not on Zach Sieler’s mind
Sieler, Aaron Brewer and Jordyn Brooks must be three of the strongest leaders on a team that currently has 41 players aged 24 or younger.
This could certainly be Sieler’s last season with the club. It’s hard to say. There is always the chance he reworks a new contract in the future.
“I told Zeek (Biggers) and them from day one, you can ask them, I’ll tell them, y’all are here to take my job, and that’s my job not to let you,” Sieler said. “And there’s no hard feelings, nothing that happens there. If my home’s not here, it’s not here, but I really still feel like it’s here. I love it here. I think my home’s here. My wife and I love it down here, and we want to make a name, and I want to retire as a dolphin. So I’ll do whatever it takes to stay here.”
Sieler is a fan of new head coach Jeff Hafley and defensive coordinator Sean Duggan.
He likes the approach they’re taking to instill an improved culture.
“Honestly, it’s the candid truth,” Sieler said, when asked what feels different in 2026. “It’s not out of resentment. It’s not out of anger. It’s out of, ‘Hey, here’s the truth. Here’s who you are. Here’s what you’ve done. Here’s what you haven’t done. Here’s what you did last play. Here’s what I want to see you from next play.’ And we’re getting better together take it personal if you didn’t do good enough last play. Figure out why you didn’t, correct it, and there’s no grudges, there’s no hard feelings.”
Hafley and Flores are both former Boston College coaches from the Tri-State area.
Flores established a culture of toughness and effort. His downfall was a lack of effective and respectful communication. Hafley is surely aware of all that history.
Flores was big on players leaving their egos at the door. And it’s a message other players have said is present with the current coaching staff and culture.
“When you have to change it like we have with top to bottom, everybody, right?” Sieler said. “You’re starting from square one. So yeah, you are checking your ego. Look, look, I don’t care what you did last year, it’s what you can do this year. And that’s the whole point of the NFL what can you do for me today? The way I live every single day, every practice, every play is, hey, last snap doesn’t matter, it’s the next step that matters.”
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins’ Zach Sieler says new staff delivers ‘candid truth.’
Reporting by Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
