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MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins coaches say they have been as impressed with Malik Willis' leadership as his arm strength and athleticism.
"I just feel he's always the first one in the building, the last one to leave," Dolphins quarterbacks coach Bush Hamdan told a small group of local reporters. "I think certainly already in the community, he's normally the one pushing to do the right thing."
The Dolphins signed Willis to a 3-year, $67.5 million contract to be their starter.
"Really talented individual," Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik told a small group of local reporters. "Can spin the ball over the field, can throw the ball everywhere, can run, obviously can use his legs, he's tough. But honestly, what I've enjoyed the most so far is getting to know him. The person is really fun to be around, really energetic. He infuses everybody with a lot of energy."
Willis, 26, adds a rushing dynamic that Miami did not have with Tua Tagovailoa.
"Yeah, I'd say any time you have a quarterback who has the ability to run," Slowik said. "It's not something that you are gonna do (quarterback run) down in, down out in the NFL. The threat of it makes it 11 verse 11, as opposed to 11 on 10. And I think that's what can get tough sometimes when you get a guy that maybe isn't as mobile at quarterback is they have 11 guys and aside from throwing the ball, you're really playing with 10."
Hamdan is impressed with Willis' physical talents.
"Certainly from his film, plenty of arm talent and the ability to extend plays. are the two things that jumped out to me," Hamdan said. "And I think as his consistency grows, I think he's got a chance to be a very, very good player."
Consistency is what would allow Willis to take another step in his career.
[IMG alt="Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) scrambles against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Ravens won the game, 41-24.
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-palm-beach-post/5594ba334edddd6b981786fadb996953[/IMG]
The Dolphins believe Willis has the tangibles to reach his potential. They view him as a leader.
"I think it's authentic," Hamdan said. "It's believable. I don't know if you guys have had a lot of time to spend with him, but he's just as good a human being as I've been around in the game. And so I think he knows exactly who he is. Cares about his teammates, not just from a setting of it's going to make him play better, but I think because he realizes you don't get these opportunities often. And so I think he's done a tremendous job of rallying the guys, all the guys, regardless of where they're from, what position they play. And that's been a big thing for us as we start in the season."
Breakout candidates: 6 Miami Dolphins ready for 2026, including Chop Robinson
Miami Dolphins schedule: Ranking opposing QBs for 2026 season
Predictions, picks ahead of NFL release: Miami Dolphins schedule 2026
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at [email protected] 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: How Miami Dolphins' Malik Willis is already impressing coaches
Continue reading...
"I just feel he's always the first one in the building, the last one to leave," Dolphins quarterbacks coach Bush Hamdan told a small group of local reporters. "I think certainly already in the community, he's normally the one pushing to do the right thing."
The Dolphins signed Willis to a 3-year, $67.5 million contract to be their starter.
"Really talented individual," Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik told a small group of local reporters. "Can spin the ball over the field, can throw the ball everywhere, can run, obviously can use his legs, he's tough. But honestly, what I've enjoyed the most so far is getting to know him. The person is really fun to be around, really energetic. He infuses everybody with a lot of energy."
Willis, 26, adds a rushing dynamic that Miami did not have with Tua Tagovailoa.
"Yeah, I'd say any time you have a quarterback who has the ability to run," Slowik said. "It's not something that you are gonna do (quarterback run) down in, down out in the NFL. The threat of it makes it 11 verse 11, as opposed to 11 on 10. And I think that's what can get tough sometimes when you get a guy that maybe isn't as mobile at quarterback is they have 11 guys and aside from throwing the ball, you're really playing with 10."
Miami Dolphins' Malik Willis makes good impression
Hamdan is impressed with Willis' physical talents.
"Certainly from his film, plenty of arm talent and the ability to extend plays. are the two things that jumped out to me," Hamdan said. "And I think as his consistency grows, I think he's got a chance to be a very, very good player."
Consistency is what would allow Willis to take another step in his career.
[IMG alt="Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) scrambles against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Ravens won the game, 41-24.
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-palm-beach-post/5594ba334edddd6b981786fadb996953[/IMG]
The Dolphins believe Willis has the tangibles to reach his potential. They view him as a leader.
"I think it's authentic," Hamdan said. "It's believable. I don't know if you guys have had a lot of time to spend with him, but he's just as good a human being as I've been around in the game. And so I think he knows exactly who he is. Cares about his teammates, not just from a setting of it's going to make him play better, but I think because he realizes you don't get these opportunities often. And so I think he's done a tremendous job of rallying the guys, all the guys, regardless of where they're from, what position they play. And that's been a big thing for us as we start in the season."
Breakout candidates: 6 Miami Dolphins ready for 2026, including Chop Robinson
Miami Dolphins schedule: Ranking opposing QBs for 2026 season
Predictions, picks ahead of NFL release: Miami Dolphins schedule 2026
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at [email protected] 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: How Miami Dolphins' Malik Willis is already impressing coaches
Continue reading...
