The Miami Dolphins opened their 2026 offseason training program on Tuesday, welcoming the team back to the training facility as classroom and team meeting work begins. As a team with a new head coach this year, the Dolphins get a head start on the rest of the league, allowing Jeff Hafley to start working his schemes and expectations into the team. Along with the Dolphins, the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, and Arizona Cardinals have started their training programs.
The offseason training program is broken into three phases, starting primarily with film work and position meetings before adding on-field practices. The majority of the training program is voluntary, though every team holds one mandatory minicamp in phase three with all veterans expected to attend.
Phase One
Phase one is two weeks – or four weeks for the teams with new head coaches. Activities are limited to meetings, strength and conditioning work, and any rehabilitation work needed.
Phase Two
Phase two is a three-week period, with on-field workouts starting. Individual and group instruction and drills are allowed during this phase, but everything is maintained at a walk-through pace. There is no offense versus defense work allowed, though offensive players can work against other offensive players and defense can work against defense. No live contact is allowed during phase two.
Phase Three
The final four weeks of the offseason training program include up to 10 days of OTAs spread over three weeks. No live contact is allowed during this phase, but this is the first time teams can work offense versus defense in 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 team drills.
Restrictions on the schedule include teams being allowed three OTA days during each of the first two weeks, with a one-time exception for a fourth day in one of the weeks, but phase two rules (individual/group instruction, walk-throughs, and no offense versus defense) apply to that day.
Helmets are permitted during phase three, as are knee and elbow pads.
Phase three allows for up to six hours of work per day.
The mandatory minicamp is part of phase three, with the same on-field rules applying. Teams may have the players in the facilities for up to 10 hours per day over the three days of on-field minicamp work, but will not exceed 24 total hours for the camp.
Minicamp is technically a week, beginning on Monday and running through Friday. Monday is limited to physicals with no practices allowed. Tuesday through Thursday, teams are allowed to hold two practices each day for a total of 3.5 hours on the field, with the second practice limited to a walk-through. Friday is a mandatory off day for each team.
Teams with new head coaches are allowed an additional voluntary minicamp during phase three. The voluntary minicamp has to be held prior to the NFL Draft (April 23-25). The Dolphins will use their voluntary minicamp option this year.
Rookie Minicamp and Development Program
Over the first or second weekend following the NFL Draft, teams are allowed to hold a rookie minicamp. During this period, teams are allowed to bring in tryout players as well as any five veterans who are still considered “first-year” players after having not qualified for an accrued year due to limited prior playing time.
Starting May 11, teams may hold a seven-week developmental program for rookies. This period includes on- and off-field work, limited to Monday through Friday.
Dolphins offseason program schedule
The Dolphins’ 2026 offseason training program schedule is:
Voluntary Minicamp: April 21-23
Rookie Minicamp: May 8-9
Organized Team Activities (OTAs): May 18-19, May 21, May 26-27, May 29, June 8-9, June 11
Mandatory Minicamp: June 2-4
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