Why De'Von Achane could chase an NFL record that's stood since 1984: Dolphins coach hints at huge year for RB
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- Jeff Hafley told De'Von Achane he might have to carry him off the field, saying workloads of 40-45 touches per game are possible in Miami's overhauled offense under new OC Bobby Slowik.
- De'Von Achane ranked fifth in the NFL with 1,350 rushing yards last season and is now the only returning Dolphins player with more than 350 receiving yards after Miami cut Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa and traded Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos.
- If Achane matches his career-high 29 touches per game over a full season, he'd total 493 — surpassing the single-season touches record held by James Wilder since 1984.
- Achane signed a four-year, $64 million extension in May, with new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan calling him 'a building block' of the offense.
- Only four players in the past decade have touched the ball 40+ times in a single game, with Titans RB Derrick Henry's 41-touch performance in 2021 being the lone instance in the past five seasons.
- Hafley arrived from Green Bay, one of only five NFL teams with more rushing attempts than passing attempts last season, signaling a run-first philosophical shift for Miami.
Why it matters: With Achane locked in on a $64 million extension and Miami having jettisoned its top receivers and starting quarterback, the Dolphins have concentrated their entire offensive identity on a single back — making Hafley's 40-45 touch game plan plausible while leaving the team one-dimensional if defenses stack the box against their lone proven weapon.
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