How the Miami Dolphins Are Embracing Analytics

In the modern NFL, where the margin between winning and losing can be measured in inches, teams are increasingly turning to analytics to gain a competitive edge—and the Miami Dolphins have emerged as one of the league’s most forward-thinking franchises in this space. Gone are the days when coaching decisions relied solely on intuition or past experience; today, the Dolphins use advanced data, machine learning models, and real-time statistics to shape everything from player acquisitions to in-game playcalls. How the Miami Dolphins Are Embracing Analytics explores how this data-driven approach has transformed the team’s operations, helping them turn potential into consistent success and positioning them as a model for other NFL franchises. From the front office to the practice field, analytics have become a cornerstone of the Dolphins’ strategy—and their results in recent seasons speak to its effectiveness.

At the heart of the Dolphins’ analytics revolution is their dedicated “Football Analytics Department,” a team of 12 specialists (including data scientists, statisticians, and former NFL players) who work closely with coaches, scouts, and front-office executives to translate raw data into actionable insights. How the Miami Dolphins Are Embracing Analytics must start here, as this department is the engine that drives the team’s data-driven decisions. Led by Director of Football Analytics Sam Schwartzstein—a former Harvard economist who joined the Dolphins in 2021—the team collects and analyzes data from every aspect of the game: player tracking data (speed, acceleration, route precision), game film metrics (pass accuracy, tackle efficiency), and even off-field data (sleep quality, nutrition intake) to optimize performance. For example, during the 2023 NFL Draft, the analytics team used a proprietary model to evaluate college wide receivers, focusing on metrics like “yards after catch per route run” and “press coverage success rate” instead of just traditional stats like receptions or yards. This model helped the Dolphins identify Jaylen Waddle as a top target— a pick that has since paid off, with Waddle becoming one of the league’s most explosive deep threats. “Analytics isn’t about replacing human judgment,” Schwartzstein says. “It’s about giving coaches and scouts more information to make better decisions. We’re here to ask, ‘What does the data tell us we’re missing?’”

A key area where the Dolphins have applied analytics is in player training and performance optimization, using data to tailor workouts, reduce fatigue, and maximize on-field production. How the Miami Dolphins Are Embracing Analytics wouldn’t be complete without highlighting this, as training is where data can have the most immediate impact on player health and performance. Every player wears a GPS tracker during practice that collects 100+ data points per second, including speed, distance covered, and heart rate variability. The analytics team uses this data to create “load management” plans for each player: for example, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa—who has a history of concussions—has his practice reps limited to 45 per session (down from 60) based on data showing that cognitive performance drops sharply after 50 reps. Running back Raheem Mostert, meanwhile, uses data from his tracker to adjust his sprint workouts; analytics showed that his peak speed decreased by 3% when he ran more than 15 sprints in a single practice, so the team now caps his sprints at 12. The results have been striking: the Dolphins ranked 5th in the NFL in “player availability” (percentage of players healthy for games) in 2023, up from 22nd in 2021, and Mostert had the most productive season of his career, rushing for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns. “Before, we trained based on what felt right,” Mostert says. “Now, we train based on what the data proves works. It’s a game-changer.”

The Dolphins also use analytics to shape their in-game playcalling strategy, leveraging real-time data to exploit opponents’ weaknesses and maximize scoring opportunities. How the Miami Dolphins Are Embracing Analytics must include this, as in-game decisions are where analytics can directly impact wins and losses. During games, the analytics team sits in the press box, feeding real-time data to offensive coordinator Frank Smith via a tablet. The data includes “situation-specific success rates”—for example, if the Dolphins are on 3rd-and-5, the tablet will show that a “slant pass to the slot” has a 68% success rate against the opponent’s current defense, while a “zone run” has just a 32% success rate. Smith uses this data to make split-second decisions, and the results have been impressive: the Dolphins ranked 3rd in the NFL in third-down conversion rate (48%) in 2023, up from 18th in 2021. A perfect example came in Week 12 of 2023, when the Dolphins faced a 4th-and-2 against the Baltimore Ravens with 2 minutes left. The analytics team flagged that the Ravens’ defense allowed a 72% success rate on “play-action passes to tight ends” in short-yardage situations, so Smith called a play-action pass to Durham Smythe—who caught the ball for a first down, setting up the game-winning field goal. “Analytics doesn’t make the call for me,” Smith says. “But it gives me confidence that the call I make has the highest chance of success. In a league where every play matters, that confidence is priceless.”

Another critical application of analytics for the Dolphins is in player injury prevention, using predictive models to identify players at risk of injury before it happens. How the Miami Dolphins Are Embracing Analytics wouldn’t be complete without this, as injuries are one of the biggest threats to a team’s success. The analytics team has built a “Predictive Injury Model” that uses data from GPS trackers, player health records, and even biometric data (like blood pressure and muscle soreness scores) to assign each player a “risk score” (1-10) every week. Players with a risk score above 7 are flagged for additional rest or modified workouts. For example, in Week 8 of 2023, the model gave defensive end Jaelan Phillips a risk score of 8.2, citing increased muscle fatigue in his shoulder (detected via his GPS tracker) and a slight drop in range of motion (from his daily health check). The team scaled back Phillips’ practice reps that week, and an MRI later revealed a minor shoulder strain that would have likely worsened into a season-ending injury if he’d kept practicing at full intensity. “The model doesn’t just tell us who might get hurt—it tells us why,” says Dr. Jessica Miller, the Dolphins’ head athletic trainer. “That allows us to take targeted action, whether it’s rest, physical therapy, or adjusting their training. It’s saved us from at least three season-ending injuries in the past two years.”

Finally, the Dolphins have found success by balancing analytics with traditional football wisdom, avoiding the trap of relying solely on data while still leveraging its power. How the Miami Dolphins Are Embracing Analytics ultimately comes down to this balance, as the best NFL teams know that data and intuition work best together. Head coach Mike McDaniel—who has a background in analytics but also played football at the college level—often says, “Analytics gives us the ‘what,’ but experience gives us the ‘why.’” For example, during the 2024 offseason, the analytics team recommended signing a veteran offensive lineman based on data showing he had the lowest “sack rate” among free agents. But McDaniel, who had coached against the lineman before, knew the player struggled in cold weather—a factor the data didn’t fully account for (the Dolphins play two games in Buffalo and one in New England in December). So the team adjusted, signing a different lineman with a slightly higher sack rate but a proven track record in cold climates. The decision paid off: the Dolphins’ offensive line allowed just 2 sacks in their three cold-weather games in 2024. “Analytics is a tool, not a solution,” McDaniel says. “The best decisions happen when the data aligns with what we see on the field and what we know about the game. That’s where the magic happens.” For the Miami Dolphins, this balance has turned analytics from a buzzword into a competitive advantage—one that will keep them at the forefront of the NFL’s data-driven revolution for years to come.