Brian Flores’ Lack of Authenticity at the Root of Miami’s Problems

Written By Evan Burk

There seems to be a growing desperation on the Miami Dolphins with the direction of the organization and the disconnect between head coach Brian Flores and the players. Obviously, losing five straight games only magnifies this feeling, but it certainly seems to point to a bigger issue within the locker room which seems to stem from Flores trying too hard to replicate what was successful in New England.

Reasons Behind the Lack of Success of the Miami Dolphins Under Brian Flores

Lack of Authenticity: Trying too Hard to Replicate Belichick, New England Patriot Approach

This is a problem that has long plagued former New England and Bill Belichick assistants: a lack of authenticity in how head coaches lead, and trying too hard to become, or lead, in the same manner as Belichick did during their time in New England.

The Disconnect Between How Flores Perceives Himself and the Reality for the Players

The disconnect between how Flores perceives himself to be a “players’ coach”, and the apparent reality of players not thinking he's approachable or flexible leads me to believe that he has indeed fallen into this trap that so many former Belichick assistants have gotten themselves into. The moment a leader begins trying to be something that you are not (i.e. trying to emulate Bill Belichick), the players can sense this.

There was obviously success in New England, but that does not mean that the exact same way will work for anyone else or any other team. In order to properly motivate this team and get them headed back in the right direction, Flores needs to connect with this team, and that starts with getting back to be authentic to who he is and what got him the head job in the first place.

Evan Burk

Evan Burk is a speaker, former NFL coach, and podcast host who uses the sports world as his backdrop to engage audiences with thought-provoking lessons of leadership, team-building, and creating championship cultures.

Evan Burk is not your typical football coach. Despite not playing football beyond high school and no network in the coaching profession, Evan's unlikely football journey began as a 4th grade coach, where he quickly worked his way to the NFL in just 6 years, and included coaching for teams such as the Miami Dolphins, UCLA, and SMU.

After spending fifteen-plus years working with the highest-performing athletes, coaches, and teams on the planet, Coach Burk uses his unique football coaching background to teach people how to utilize the same strategies in business and life that elite players and teams use to perform at a world-class level.

Evan received his B.S. in business management from the University of Colorado, and his Master of Liberal Studies degree from Southern Methodist University. He also hosts his own weekly sports leadership podcast, The Highest Level, where he reveals how championship team cultures are built and the keys to leadership excellence at the highest level.

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