Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross Fires General Manager Chris Grier, Remains Supportive of Coach Mike McDaniel

Strategic Insights -

The Dolphins' dismal performance on Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens seemed to prompt owner Stephen Ross to initiate an organizational overhaul, but surprisingly, it didn't involve firing coach Mike McDaniel, despite the team's record plummeting to 2-7. Instead, Ross parted ways with general manager Chris Grier, who had been with the team since 2016, citing a need for change to improve the team's performance in 2025 and beyond. Grier was replaced by senior personnel executive Champ Kelly, who will lead the team's trade deliberations, including potential trades of players like Jaylen Waddle and Jaelan Phillips. McDaniel remains in charge, acknowledging that the team's current product is unacceptable and vowing to do better.

Key Takeaways:

  • Dolphins owner Stephen Ross fired general manager Chris Grier on Friday, citing a need for change to improve the team's performance in 2025 and beyond.
  • Senior personnel executive Champ Kelly was promoted to interim general manager to lead the team's trade deliberations, including potential trades of players like Jaylen Waddle and Jaelan Phillips.
  • Coach Mike McDaniel remains in charge, despite the Dolphins' 2-7 record, and acknowledged that the team's current product is unacceptable.
  • The Dolphins have been unable to sustain their success on offense, despite having a dynamic coach-quarterback combination in McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa.
  • Tagovailoa, 27, signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension with the Dolphins in July 2024, but has struggled to stay healthy and in the lineup.
  • McDaniel has been refreshingly candid and offbeat, but the Dolphins have been unable to keep their offensive stars healthy and in the lineup.
  • The team will likely go through a rebuild with new Executive Vice President of Football Operations and new General Manager can give Coach Mike MacDaniel a new path to victory.

Statistics:

  • The Dolphins are 2-7 on the season, with a record that hasn't improved since their 11-5 start in the 2023 season.
  • The team has amassed a total of 726 yards of offense in a single game, the most in NFL history.
  • Tua Tagovailoa has thrown a league-high 11 interceptions this season, including one in Thursday's loss to the Ravens.
  • Mike McDaniel has coached the Dolphins to a regular-season record of 30-30 in four seasons.
  • The Dolphins' playoff chances seem slim, but McDaniel remains optimistic that the team can turn things around.

Sources:

  • ESPN
  • NFL.com
  • Miami Herald