The Pittsburgh Steelers signed safety DeShone Elliott to a new two-year, $12.5 million contract yesterday, according to Tom Pellisero. Elliott would have been entering the second year of a two-year, $6 million contract he signed with Pittsburgh in 2024.
However, with the signing, it brought up comments the former Miami Dolphins safety made about the team back in November of 2024. Elliott played in Miami in 2023 before signing with the Steelers.
While the Dolphins' culture has been the most consistent under Mike McDaniel, when a former player calls the team "soft," it raises some eyebrows.
But he may not have been wrong. The Dolphins made the postseason in McDaniel's first two seasons as head coach, but couldn't get past the Wild Card round. Then in 2024, while dealing with injuries to Tua Tagovailoa, the team fell to 8-9 and missed the playoffs.
A big question this offseason has been the culture in Miami. Are they tough enough? Do they have what it takes to compete in the AFC? Or is Mike McDaniel's time in Miami coming to an end?
Former Miami Dolphins safety DeShon Elliott (21) makes a tackle.
Former Miami Dolphins safety DeShon Elliott (21) makes a tackle against Baltimore Ravens wide reciever Zay Flowers.
© Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Elliott's remarks may have been a player taking a shot at his former team, but they seem to have resonated with the Dolphins' locker room and created a narrative that something does need to change.
"There were some guys who were tough," Elliott said. "But the majority of the (Dolphins) were not mentally tough individuals."
The Dolphins have come into the offseason this year with an effort to change that. With pressure on the team, it feels like everyone in a high position in Miami knows 2025 has to be different.
Even Bradley Chubb admitted it during minicamp that the Dolphins were lying about a culture change last year, but that this year has to be different.
The AFC will be extremely competitive, but the Dolphins are hoping that with their stars back healthy and a shift in culture, they can get back to competing in the playoffs.
Sometimes it takes being called out to actually start a change in a culture.