MIAMI GARDENS ― When Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafleychose to bring quarterback Malik Willis with them from Green Bay, they knew what they were getting.
Even though Willis had only six NFL starts in four seasons, they knew he had a strong arm. They knew he was incredibly athletic. And they knew he had the right temperament and demeanor.
"It's one of the things that drew me to him," Hafley said. "He's just got this cool demeanor about him where guys kind of gravitate to him, where chaos could be going on around him and he still has that same look on his face whether we're winning or losing or what's going on in the moment."
The Dolphins haven't won a playoff game in 25 years. Among the quarterbacks to fail
to deliver: A.J. Feeley, Joey Harrington, Cleo Lemon, Chad Pennington, Chad Henne, Matt Moore, Ryan Tannehill, Jay Cutler, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tua Tagovailoa.
"He's a very smart quarterback," Dolphins star De'Von Achane said of Willis. "And he doesn't make any bad decisions. I feel like he's great with the ball in his hands, and when he don't have the good look that he wants, I feel like he's good with using his feet."
Miami Dolphins put their faith in Malik Willis
The Dolphins are expected to finish in the range of 3-14 to 5-12 this season. But at least Willis, only 27, provides some hope. This is a player with a high ceiling. He can make something happen when there appears to be nothing there to happen.
And, yes, there is a cannon strapped to Willis’ right arm.
If Willis can elevate a very young and undermanned 2026 roster, it will make a big statement.
Recently, Dolphins reporter Joe Schad sat down for a 1-on-1 Q&A with Willis.
Willis was as advertised: measured, affable, thoughtful and modest.
Here is that conversation:
Malik Willis Q&A with Joe Schad of Palm Beach Post
Joe Schad: So I love sports journalism. All I ever wanted to be was a sports writer and a sports broadcaster, and I was able to do it. So I want to ask someone who does it at the highest level. What do you love most about football?
Malik Willis: The competitiveness. I think it's really cool to test your mettle against other people and to do it with the brotherhood that you get at every level, whether it's NFL, whether it's high school, whether it's college. I think that's really cool. A group of guys coming together to try and accomplish a goal as one unit.
Joe Schad: You mentioned the word competitor. How do you describe yourself as a competitor?
Malik Willis: To win. I try to win in everything I do. I think it's just the urge to really, the mindset that whatever I do, I'm going to be the best at it. And you get to actually compare that when you get to play sports.
Joe Schad: So I'm curious about this moment. The moment, I don't know where you were or if you jumped up and down. Can you describe the feeling and tell me about the moment that you decided to go with the Dolphins?
Malik Willis: I was on the field training when they called, and after talking to Sully (GM Jon-Eric Sullivan) and Haf (coach Jeff Hafley) and just what they told me, I think it was good stuff. And I can honestly say that I trust those guys and I believe them. And, you know, they've been one thing with me since I've met them, and that's honest. And that's all I would ask for, honesty and a shot to come and compete. And, you know, maybe, maybe, have a job. And now I got a job shot.
Joe Schad: If you had to describe your feeling in that moment in one word, what would you pick?
Malik Willis: Blessed, because I never really thought this opportunity would come. Obviously, I worked hard for the possibility of it coming, but at the same time, it's like, how is somebody going to give a guy a shot that has six starts?
Joe Schad: I know you had a fight to play in high school you had a fight to play in college, you had a fight to play in the NFL. That's a lot of fights. What has been your toughest challenge?
Malik Willis: Just the consistency portion early on. Obviously feeling like you're not getting the shot and still putting in the time and effort that you need to continue to get better. I think that's what it was at first. And after going through it again and again, it starts not to matter. All you can control is what you do when the opportunity arises. And that's what I wanted to make my hay off of. If I go out swinging, if I go out, I'm gonna’ go out swinging. You know what I mean?
Editor’s Note: Willis played wide receiver and quarterback in high school and transferred schools. Willis was passed over at Auburn and transferred to Liberty. Willis was a third-round pick of the Titans but started only three games before the franchise moved on.
Joe Schad: I think people appreciate perseverance. Some people feel like they were handed things and you have not been handed things. You have had to earn this. What qualities do you admire most in other people?
Malik Willis: Probably that perseverance that you talk about. I think that's an important quality as far as life goes because you just never know what happens. All the ups and downs of life, if you can, you can always work towards something better. Regardless if it goes better or not, you can work towards something better. And that's the opportunity. It keeps you going.
Joe Schad: Misunderstandings. What do you think people may have misunderstood about you, if anything?
Malik Willis: I don't know what people think. But I can't control that. I mean, as long as I think cool about me, it's all good.
Joe Schad: What are you chasing now?
Malik Willis: Today I was chasing a good practice, tomorrow I'm gonna’ be, chasing, I guess we get to go give out some computers to some kids, and then I get to go to my brother's game this weekend. I mean, it's whatever the day is. You gotta’ be chasing day by day. You don't ever know if you can wake up tomorrow. I try to take advantage of the day I get and the opportunities I get during that day.
Joe Schad: Where does your brother play?
Malik Willis: He's at Tarleton State.
Joe Schad: Is he gonna make it?
Malik Willis: Hopefully. Yeah.
Joe Schad: What position?
Malik Willis: Receiver. Okay. Yeah, he's nice though. He had a good first game too.
Joe Schad: Were you a better receiver than him?
Malik Willis: No, not even close.
Joe Schad: All right. I want to ask you one last question, but first, a couple of quickies, if I can. Favorite comfort meal?
Malik Willis: Probably like, neck bones, collard greens, and macaroni and cheese, cornbread, or maybe oxtails and rice.
Joe Schad: Wow. When I go home for the Jets game, because my family's from there, my mom makes me sleep in my childhood bed, and she makes me chicken cutlets with cream corn. Yeah. So it's like, it doesn't matter how old you are, that comfort food.
Joe Schad: Favorite road trip music? What's on in your car?
Malik Willis: A little bit of everything. For real. I love music and I try to appreciate all different genres of it. I might be listening to hip hop, I might be listening to gospel, I might be listening to the old school playlist with all the 80s and 70s and 90s. Then I might be listening to some indie rock. You don't ever know. I just try to enjoy the music for what it is. People put a lot of emotion and time into it.
Joe Schad: Favorite movie?
Malik Willis: Probably The Departed. Or Prisoners. That's a good one too.
Joe Schad: Did you see Odysseus?
Malik Willis: Yeah, I’ve seen Odysseus. It was good. That was fire.
Joe Schad: I feel like some of the guys in the locker room were in it. Will (Kacmarek) looked like he was in it.
Malik Willis: He might have been in the background.
Joe Schad: Alright, last one. What do you hope Dolphin fans say about you when your career is over?
Malik Willis: He gave everything he had and he cared. That's more than anything. Obviously, we want to say he won too. But that's to be proven. You can't ask for that beforehand.
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins' Malik Willis opens up on perseverance, opportunity, belief
