Dolphins’ OC Praises Malik Willis’s Ability to ‘Spin the Ball All Over the Field’

Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis has made a good first impression on his coaches.

Willis was drafted by the Tennessee Titans and spent the past two seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He showed flashes of potential in sporadic appearances in relief of Packers starter Jordan Love, enough to earn him a two-year deal with the Dolphins and the opportunity to start. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik talked about Willis’s ability at a May 12 press conference.

“Really talented individual,” Slowik said. “Can spin the ball all over the field, can throw the ball everywhere, can run obviously, can use his legs. He’s tough. But honestly, what I’ve enjoyed the most so far is like getting to know him. The person is really fun to be around. He’s really energetic. He infuses everybody with a lot of energy. Just makes you want to be involved in whatever he’s doing. And he’s been fun to coach.”

In addition to his throwing ability, Slowik complimented his running, noting that a mobile quarterback is an asset to an offense, especially when a play breaks down.

“I’d say anytime you have a quarterback who has the ability to run—it’s not something that you are going to do down-in, down-out in the NFL, but the threat of it makes it 11-versus-11 as opposed to 11-on-10. And I think that’s what can get tough sometimes when you get a guy that maybe isn’t as mobile at quarterback, is they have 11 guys, and aside from throwing the ball, you’re really playing with 1,” Slowik said.

“So, it just lets you equalize some advantageous situations. Outside of that, really the mobility these days shows up more in off-schedule situations than it does anything. So it’s definitely a weapon, and it’s a threat and something you want a defense to think about, but I think no one in the NFL is coming out and just living in that world.”

Willis was drafted by the Tennessee Titans out of Liberty in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He appeared in 8 games as a rookie with 3 starts, going 1-2 as a starter; he completed 31 of 61 passes for 276 yards and 3 interceptions. He rushed 27 times for 123 yards and a touchdown. In 2023, the Titans drafted Will Levis out of Kentucky in the second round. Willis threw just 5 passes that season as the third-stringer behind Levis and Ryan Tannehill.

He was traded to the Packers in the 2024 preseason. He appeared in 7 games in relief of Love with two starts, both of which he won. He completed 40 of 54 passes for 550 yards and 3 TDs; he rushed 20 times for 138 yards and a score. He appeared in 4 games in 2025 with one start, a loss; he went 30 of 35 passing for 422 yards and 3 TDs; and added 22 carries for 123 yards and 2 rushing TDs.

Willis signed a three-year, $67.5 million deal with the Dolphins in free agency. He replaces veteran Tua Tagovailoa, whom the team cut in free agency. He will also be a veteran leader of a young, rebuilding offense.

Slowik said his offense will lean on his quarterback’s strengths, but will also rely on the foundation he has built over the years.

“It’s always a balance. That’s at every position. Like, we have some core beliefs and fundamentals that we really want to make sure we do. I’m sure [head] coach [Jeff] Hafley has talked about it. I believe in keeping the defense off-balance. I believe in running the football, skewing as close to 50/50 on first [and] second down as you can,” Slowik said.

So, there’s core tenets that are always going to be there and then everything beyond that, you really are working within your scheme to fit the guys you have. So, some of that has to do with the quarterback, some of that has to do with the running backs, some of that has to do with the O-line, tight end, receivers. That’s all the way across the board. So, it’s always a work in progress.”