Sports Illustrated puts Dolphins’ 2026 uniforms at No. 9 in NFL-wide ranking

Sports Illustrated’s end-of-offseason uniform conversation has a new centerpiece, and it is the Miami Dolphins. In a league-wide ranking of the NFL’s 2026 looks, Miami checked in at No. 9, a spot the magazine frames as evidence that the club’s visual identity continues to resonate even as questions about on-field performance remain a separate matter.

The Dolphins’ placement is notably part of a wider 1-to-32 list that Sports Illustrated published for the entire league. According to the Dolphins coverage echoed by The Phinsider, the Los Angeles Chargers earned the top uniform spot, while the Rams and Jets were ranked far from the Miami range, with the Dolphins emerging as the highest-rated AFC East team in that survey.

Sports Illustrated’s reasoning, as summarized in downstream coverage, connects the Dolphins’ current aesthetic to the logo and uniform refresh that arrived before the 2013 season. The magazine describes a move from a “leaping dolphin” to a “swimming dolphin,” and it credits the branding change, along with ongoing subtle adjustments, for shaping what the uniforms now look like heading into 2026. The key through-line remains the team’s signature aqua color, which Sports Illustrated says is what helps the Dolphins’ kits “pop.”

The magazine’s commentary also highlights the tension that exists in many uniform discussions, namely tradition versus merchandising-driven change. Fans have reportedly pushed for the Dolphins to make a throwback style a permanent feature, but Sports Illustrated’s position, as relayed in the Dolphins-focused write-up, is that the league continues to treat jersey sales as a major consideration. That context helps explain why the most nostalgic versions may remain limited appearances rather than a default, even when they are popular.

For the Dolphins, the ranking does not change the football baseline, but it does feed into how teams are experienced from week to week. Uniforms are one of the most visible parts of an organization’s brand, and Miami’s high placement suggests the team’s look is landing with the kind of broad audience that uniform rankings often reflect: long-time supporters, casual observers, and fans buying jerseys at the start of a new season.

Looking ahead, the more practical question is how often Miami leans into these designs as the season progresses. Sports Illustrated’s framing implies that “once or twice a season” throwback moments are still likely, while the standard set remains centered on the aqua-forward identity. That is the sort of detail that can matter for broadcast viewers and fans tracking which looks appear on primetime and special event weeks.

Overall, this is a branding story dressed up in sports media language, not a roster or performance update. Still, for a Dolphins team working through the standard offseason noise of preparation and expectation, the No. 9 ranking adds a measure of validation that the organization’s visual identity is one of its strengths heading into 2026.

A final caveat: uniform rankings are inherently subjective and depend on what each publication weighs most heavily, such as color, logo integration, and how frequently teams update their designs. The Dolphins’ placement may not predict wins or style trends by itself, but it does give fans a benchmark for how the team’s “modern era” look is being judged league-wide.