MIAMI — Mike McDaniel stopped treating leadership like something he talked about occasionally and started treating it like a skill that needs to be trained.

In an era of player empowerment, which is being fueled by the new NIL culture of college athletics, the Miami Dolphins head coach is a firm believer that he’s merely a steward of South Florida’s NFL franchise and that the team belongs to its players.

That’s why he often uses their feedback to create game plans, determine who fills vacancies and the schedule for practice, leaning heavily on the Dolphins’ leadership council, which is made up of the team’s captains and one player from each position unit.

“They kind of keep what’s discussed in those meetings secretish,” said left tackle Patrick Paul, who isn’t on the council because first- and second-year players are excluded. “I guess I’ll find out next year.”

The council, which has between 12 and 15 members, meets every Monday afternoon to go over the game plan for the week, address team issues and to learn the themes and the message for the week so it can be disseminated.

And this is all intentional because when a team is conducted that way people become more invested.

Leadership becomes personal, ownership increases and your culture begins to shift from top-down control to peer-driven accountability.

“I say leadership council a ton because I rely on them just like I do the captains, and they’re really the pillars of the veterans of this football team,” McDaniel said. “If we think collectively we’re not getting something done, it should be at least addressed, and if we can add or minimize reps, or I need more from the players in whatever form or fashion, we make sure we work it out there so we’re all speaking the same language.”

Discussions vary each week based on what the team is going through. But the leadership council is credited for keeping the team focused and driven during 1-6 start of the 2025 season.

Lately, since Miami altered its preparation routine before the 34-10 win against the Atlanta Falcons, there has been a three-theme approach for the week.

Miami has simplified things with the understanding that if the players lock in on those three messages, the team typically performs better.

“A lot of weeks it’s about individual growth and being candid with each other. How could I have done this better, how could I have done that better. Not from an on-the-field standpoint, but leadership,” said Zach Sieler, who is in his fourth season as a member of McDaniel’s leadership council. “Trying to grow as a man and a human. Expand your vision on leadership.”

That’s why speakers are often invited. As Miami began its preparation for Sunday’s home game against the New Orleans Saints, Nick Lavery, an active-duty Green Beret within the United States Army Special Forces, despite sustaining in combat an injury that resulted in an above-the-knee amputation of a leg, was brought in to share the methodology that helped him return to operation stats, which he addressed in the book “Objective Secured.”

Everything from how to address the rookie class’ struggles, to whether it’s wise to remove the Pop-a-Shot basketball rims and card tables from the locker room gets discussed in the leadership council meetings.

Players revealed it was linebacker Jordyn Brooks who put his foot down a month ago and had the games removed from the locker room after Miami’s 28-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

“JB wasn’t on the leadership council last year, and he’s damn near running the thing now,” fullback Alec Ingold said of Brooks.

“He leads in his own way, his authentic voice,” Ingold said of Brooks. ”For him to feel empowered to do so in that room and for everyone to listen, that’s the biggest growth of a single individual.”

Every team Tyrel Dodson has been on had a leadership council, but none have been more empowered than what he has experienced in Miami.

“Through the up or down, we continue to figure out how we can get better. Everything isn’t going to be perfect every day, but we didn’t splinter,” Dodson said, referring to the Dolphins winning three of the last four games this season. “We’re flowing as one. That takes awhile to happen because we have a lot of new guys in their first year.

“You know how it is, you got a girlfriend for the first month you’re not as comfortable. Six or seven months in, stuff starts happening, and you begin to call it out,” Dodson said. “Now we’ve heard your tone and voice, they know the intent. You can accept it easier.”

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