The Miami Dolphins are coming off another year of high expectations and lukewarm results. Head coach Mike McDaniel’s team is still searching for its first deep playoff run during his tenure, and the pressure is building.
With Tyreek Hill showing some signs of slowing down and a growing sense that Tua Tagovailoa might be running out of tricks, there’s a clear push to reset the narrative. One cornerback has stepped up to call out the team and demand urgency.
Miami Dolphins CB Kader Kohou Adds Pressure on Teammates To ‘Be on Their S***’
According to a May 29 article from The Palm Beach Post, Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou joined McDaniel in urging the team to establish a new “identity” as OTAs got underway.
“Just like, we got to kind of get a new identity,” Kohou said. “And there’s not gonna be a lot of slack and stuff like that. Everybody has to be on their s***, really.”
Kader Kohou says Dolphins cornerbacks feel they have something to prove this year with the unit being doubted this offseason. pic.twitter.com/v99t3nk81y
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) May 28, 2025
Kohou is heading into his fourth season with the Dolphins and seems to believe it’s his responsibility to help raise the bar. He might even be including himself in that challenge.
Despite being a veteran presence, Kohou is only under contract through the 2025 season. He signed a one-year deal, putting added pressure on him to help lead Miami to a level worth investing in beyond this year.
Dolphins Defense Looking To Continue Building After Noticeable Jump
Miami has reason to feel good about its defensive progress. In 2024, the team ranked 11th in PFSN’s Defense+ metrics, marking a clear improvement over 2023.
Kohou was part of that growth. Despite playing two fewer games and starting seven fewer times than the year before, he still posted a career high in interceptions and matched his best marks in forced and recovered fumbles.
Overall, the Dolphins’ defense looks like it’s trending in the right direction. The offense, on the other hand, remains a work in progress.
READ MORE: NFL Insider Argues Make-or-Break 2025 Could Be Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa’s Final Season in Miami
Miami’s offense earned a 76.3 Offense+ score by PFSN metrics, placing it 15th in the league. Hill isn’t getting any younger. Tagovailoa and McDaniel still haven’t found that next gear. And the whole team is under pressure to finally break through in 2025.
Will Kohou’s message resonate in the locker room? Or will the Dolphins once again see their season end on wild-card weekend?