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The Miami Dolphins are in full rebuild mode after firing head coach Mike McDaniel and releasing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa following an awful 2025 season. And it appears they’re entrusting that rebuild to new QB Malik Willis.
Miami handed Willis, who has just six career starts across four NFL seasons, a three-year, $67.5 million contract with $45 million worth of guaranteed money.
Willis, a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans, played in just 11 games over two seasons for the team, including three starts, before being traded to the Green Bay Packers for a seventh-round pick.
In Green Bay, Willis served as the backup to star quarterback Jordan Love. But with Love dealing with injuries, Willis got the opportunity to appear in 11 games over the past two seasons, including three more starts.
He went 2-1 in those starts, throwing for an average of 204 yards, including three touchdowns and no interceptions. Those games were enough to convince the Dolphins that he was worth the game. But they may soon have buyer’s remorse.
Malik Willis Threw An AWFUL First Pitch For The Miami Marlins
Willis recently made one of his first big public appearances in Miami, throwing out the first pitch ahead of a game between the Marlins and the Philadelphia Phillies.
Unfortunately for Dolphins’ fans, it was not a pretty sight.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis threw out the first pitch ahead of tonight’s game against the Phillies.#Marlins #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/fmqomHL0x0
— Kevin Barral (@kevin_barral) May 1, 2026
Not only did Willis not throw a strike, but he also missed the zone so badly that the person behind the plate had no opportunity to even come close to catching the ball. We’re talking 50 Cent levels of horrific first pitch.
Now, throwing a football and throwing a baseball are not the same thing. This doesn’t necessarily mean that Willis won’t be good at throwing a football. But Miami fans are certainly not optimistic after Willis’ display.
Damn we going 2-15 next year, smh https://t.co/VwDtwXEnVR
— WeBackOutside Chicharito (@StoneyHustle) May 1, 2026
Willis claimed that he slipped while trying to throw the pitch. Perhaps that’s true. But first impressions are hard to shake, and that was quite the first impression in Miami…