From first-timers to returnees, Dolphins open up on Germany trip, international stage

Outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips walked up to the elevated table situated in front of a Dolphins backdrop and quickly showcased the little German he knew.

“Guten tag,” he said to the throng of German- and United States-based media present for the Dolphins’ first practice in Frankfurt on Wednesday.

Phillips later revealed he once learned how to count to 20 in German and when asked to show, he began rattling off a series of numbers in the language.

For the 180 members of the Dolphins organization in Germany this week, their familiarity with the country varies.

It’s the second time in the country for Phillips, who took a trip when he was 12 to visit his aunt when she was stationed in Germany. Offensive coordinator Frank Smith is of German descent and has been to the nation multiple times.

But for the majority of the team, it’s the first time in the country that will serve as the place of their preparation this week and then the site of their Week 9 game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, a noted history major who had never traveled across the Atlantic, understood the uniqueness of the trip. So, back in the spring, he decided to have the team travel from South Florida to Frankfurt — a nine-hour plane ride — on Monday evening and arrive Tuesday morning. Players were then able to spend their off day in the country before official preparation for the Chiefs began Wednesday.

McDaniel and the several Dolphins who spoke after their first practice, situated at a local multi-use stadium, have appreciated the novelty of the experience.

Cornerback Xavien Howard joined his fellow defensive backs at the mall late in the afternoon after catching up on sleep — only to find out that the shops close much earlier than in the United States.

“The malls close at 7, so I get there around 6:30, did my little 30 minutes,” he said.

The local cuisine was of interest to many.

“I had to get a frank, man,” safety Jevon Holland said with a smile. “I had to get a, what’s it called, bratwurst? So, that was cool. That was good.”

Said Phillips: “Some schnitzel, too, that was really good.”

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, an avid golfer, even found a golf course during his off day.

Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle said the team was briefed on the history and culture of Germany before the trip, but immersing themselves in it gave it an entirely different feel. Several players met a local German woman who ended up giving them a personal tour of Frankfurt.

“Obviously [she] saw we were foreigners because we stick out like a sore thumb,” Phillips said. “But yeah, it’s been an incredible experience so far.”

McDaniel said his attention has solely been focused on meetings and watching film in preparation for a high-stakes game with the Chiefs, whom the Dolphins are tied with for the best record in the AFC, along with the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars. But he said it has been a “fantastic experience for a lot of our locker room.” He also credited the team’s support staff for coordinating the travel and loads of equipment to have the work week as normal as possible about 7,000 miles from home.

Traveling early also allows the team to get their bodies adjusted to the time change — Germany is currently five hours ahead of Miami — faster.

The practice schedule is a drastic change from the last time the Dolphins had an international game. In 2021, when Brian Flores was the head coach, the Dolphins practiced in Miami Gardens on Wednesday and Thursday before leaving for London. The team held its final practice in the United Kingdom on Friday before its game against the Jaguars, a 23-20 loss.

More teams have experimented with spending the entire week overseas before international games this season, and the results have mainly favored that tactic. In Week 6, the Ravens left for London the Monday before the game and spent the week overseas. They defeated the Tennessee Titans, who arrived in London early Friday morning. The Jaguars stayed in London for back-to-back international games and beat the Buffalo Bills, who arrived Thursday evening.

McDaniel previously referenced “science stuff” that played a role in his decision-making.

The Chiefs, who are the “home team” and have commercial rights in Germany under the league’s global markets program, are arriving in Frankfurt on Friday.

“It was a really long flight, and I think we just need one more day to get adjusted to the sleep schedule and after that I think it’ll be fun,” Tagovailoa said.

The enormity of the experience is not lost on the Dolphins, too.

McDaniel called it a “privilege” to be playing in the NFL’s first regular-season game in Frankfurt and one of two being held in the city this year (The New England Patriots will face the Indianapolis Colts next week).

The head-to-head matchup could also be pivotal in deciding who has the AFC’s No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The international stage only adds to the appeal.

“I think we should [play overseas] more,” Holland said. “I think it’s dope. I mean, the flight wasn’t that long. Just a little hop, skip and jump over the water. I was enjoying it, honestly, the whole process, being in a new country. It’s like a free vacation and we get to play. I’m always down for that, especially if we leave on Monday.”