Jaylen Waddle Shows Off Juggling Skills to Boost Football Performance

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida — Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle showcased his newly acquired juggling skills during a recent OTA session. Waddle, who learned to juggle in just two to three days, shared his enthusiasm during an interview, saying, “I learned how to juggle in two or three days. I’m just saying, if anybody can beat that, I don’t know.”

Before joining drills focused on football, Waddle was seen juggling three tennis balls. His new hobby is a challenge from his wide receivers coach, Robert Prince, aimed at improving his hand-eye coordination.

Last season, Waddle tied his career-high with eight drops, despite being targeted a career-low of 83 times. He finished the 2024 season with 58 receptions, 744 yards, and two touchdowns—his lowest numbers since entering the NFL. Some of his struggles were attributed to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missing six games, and the offensive unit struggled at times without him.

However, in recent practices, Waddle has shown signs of a rebound. During last week’s session, he made notable plays, including a 60-yard touchdown reception against cornerback Cam Smith. Waddle is currently the primary focus among pass-catchers as fellow teammate Tyreek Hill recovers from wrist surgery.

“I approach it as any other day,” Waddle said. “It’s not really a different approach. I think our overall offensive approach this offseason has been pretty good.”

Head coach Mike McDaniel praised Waddle for his dedication and understanding of his crucial role in the offense. “I see a guy that’s ready to earn growth to a game that’s already top tier within the National Football League,” he said, noting Waddle’s humility and commitment to improvement.

Waddle acknowledged last season’s performance was below expectations, both for himself and the team, which finished with an 8-9 record and missed the playoffs. “Definitely not the year we wanted as a team. Definitely the year that I didn’t want as an individual,” Waddle said. He is optimistic about returning to training with the same quarterback and coaching staff, believing it will lay a solid foundation for the upcoming season.

Waddle credits TikTok tutorials for helping him learn juggling quickly, stating that Prince encourages the players to explore new skills. “That was actually pretty fun. I’m trying to learn new techniques, actually,” he added.