Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley drops bombshell on De’Von Achane’s 2026 workload

The Miami Dolphins are entering a new era under first-year head coach Jeff Hafley, and one thing is already crystal clear: De’Von Achane is going to be the focal point of the offense.

Speaking Monday on “The Rich Eisen Show,” Hafley revealed just how heavily he intends to rely on the dynamic running back during the 2026 season, even joking that Achane may need help getting back to the locker room after some games.

“I just gave Achane a heads-up this morning and I told him, ‘You better be in good shape,’” Hafley said. “I told him there might be some games when I have to pick him up and carry him back to the locker room because he’s going to be so tired.”

It’s an eye-opening statement that signals a significant shift in Miami’s offensive philosophy. Rather than spreading touches evenly throughout the backfield, Hafley appears committed to putting the ball in the hands of his most explosive playmaker as often as possible.

Achane is coming off the busiest season of his young NFL career. The former Texas A&M standout totaled 238 rushing attempts and 67 receptions in 2025, finishing with a career-high 305 touches. He also proved he could handle an increased workload, recording at least 20 touches in eight different games.

His busiest outing came against the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 11, when he touched the football 28 times while serving as the centerpiece of Miami’s offense

Dolphins ready to ride Achane like never before in 2026

Now, Hafley believes Achane could be asked to do even more.

The first-year coach suggested there could be games where the Pro Bowl running back approaches or even surpasses 40 touches—a workload rarely seen in today’s NFL. Such usage would place Achane among the league’s busiest offensive players and underscore the confidence Miami has in his ability to impact games as both a runner and receiver.

While Achane’s role appears firmly established, the competition behind him remains one of the Dolphins’ biggest training camp storylines. Miami continues evaluating its backup running backs as the coaching staff works to determine the pecking order heading into the regular season.

If Hafley follows through on his promise, however, those reserves may simply be spelling Achane rather than sharing the workload.

For the Dolphins, the message is simple: when your best player has the ball, good things tend to happen. In 2026, Miami plans to test that theory early and often.

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