| Metric | Dolphins | NFL Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Net Punting Average | 38.7 yards | 31st |
| Returns Allowed (10+ yards) | 14 | T-28th |
| Punts Blocked (2026 Preseason) | 3 | 32nd (Most) |
The Dolphins Finally Admit It: Punting Was a Disaster
Let’s be real, Dolphins fans. We spent all offseason arguing about Tua’s extension and the cornerback room, but the elephant in the room was the guy with the worst job in football: the punter. After finishing 31st in net punting average last year - a putrid 38.7 yards - and allowing 14 returns of 10+ yards, the front office finally hit the panic button. The Jake Bailey experiment is over. He was cut on August 25 after averaging just 41.2 net yards and serving up a brutal 22-yard shank against Tampa Bay. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, that’s simply unacceptable. The Dolphins needed a change, and they needed it now.
📊 31st in Net Punting (38.7 yards) - Miami's 2025 average was the franchise's worst mark in a decade, turning field position into a nightly nightmare.
The numbers don’t lie, and neither does the pressure cooker in Miami Gardens. When your defense is built on speed and aggression, forcing opponents to drive 80 yards instead of 55 is the difference between a three-and-out and a touchdown drive. The Dolphins allowed too many free yards last season, and it cost them in close games against playoff-caliber teams. Special Teams Coordinator Darren Rizzi has been publicly fuming about "ball placement off the left foot" since training camp on August 12, and you could hear the frustration in his voice. He knows the coverage unit can’t do its job if the punter is serving up ducks.
The front office tried to fix this quietly. They re-signed Matt Haack on August 18, brought in UDFA rookie Grant Glasgow from TCU, and let the competition play out. But after Bailey’s catastrophic preseason performance - including that shank heard 'round the state against Tampa Bay on August 22 - the patience ran out. This isn’t a rebuild anymore. This is a team with its window wide open, and you can’t win a Lombardi Trophy when your punter is giving the opposition a short field. The Dolphins needed a change, and they needed it now.
Morstead to the Rescue? A 40-Year-Old Answer
The Veteran Gamble
On August 28, Miami made their move, signing 40-year-old Thomas Morstead to a one-year, $1.9 million deal with $750K guaranteed. On paper, it’s a savvy pickup. Morstead ranked 3rd in hang time (4.71 seconds) with Atlanta in 2025, which is exactly what Darren Rizzi demands. Rizzi has been publicly fuming about "ball placement off the left foot" since training camp, and Morstead’s elite hang time neutralizes returners. The Dolphins are desperate for consistency, and they’re betting on a wily veteran who’s seen it all - including a Super Bowl ring with the Saints and a Pro Bowl nod that proves his pedigree.
| Rank | Player (Team) | Hang Time (sec) | Net Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A. Cole (LV) | 4.82 | 46.1 |
| 2 | J. Fox (CAR) | 4.76 | 45.8 |
| 3 | T. Morstead (ATL) | 4.71 | 44.9 |
The Risks Are Obvious
But let’s pump the brakes. Morstead is 40 years old. He hasn’t punted in a Dolphins uniform yet, and he’s walking into a Week 1 showdown against the Jets on September 10. He’s the only punter on the 53-man roster as of this morning after the team waived rookie Grant Glasgow, leaving Matt Haack as the backup. Haack knows this franchise - he posted a 45.1 net average in 2019, the last time Miami had a punter finish above that mark. But Haack is a safety net, not a savior. Morstead has to prove he’s not just a name brand, especially after the preseason was a nightmare: Miami had 3 punts blocked in four games, the most in the NFL. The protection issues are real, and a 40-year-old leg can’t outrun a free rusher.
