Chris Grier Parts Ways with Miami Dolphins After 25 Years

In a dramatic turn of events that sent shockwaves through the NFL community, the Miami Dolphins and longtime general manager Chris Grier have agreed to part ways after a tenure spanning more than a quarter of a century. The announcement came just one day after a humiliating 28-6 home defeat to the Baltimore Ravens on “Thursday Night Football,” a loss that seemed to crystallize the franchise’s downward spiral this season. Chris Grier’s journey with the Dolphins began in 2000, as he steadily rose through the ranks from area scout to national scout, then director of college scouting, and finally general manager in 2016. Under his stewardship, Miami made three playoff appearances (2016, 2022, and 2023), but heartbreakingly, each run ended in the wild-card round. The Dolphins’ overall record during his GM tenure was a middling 77-80, and this year’s 2-7 start proved too bitter a pill for owner Stephen M. Ross to swallow. In a statement, Ross acknowledged the need for immediate change: “We must improve—in 2025, 2026 and beyond—and it needs to start right now.” This split marks the end of an era, but also signals the possibility of sweeping changes in an organization that hasn’t tasted postseason victory since 2000. The cracks had started to show last year, with an 8-9 record marred by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missing six games and star receiver Tyreek Hill failing to replicate his prior heroics. The offseason exodus of veterans like Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith, and Calais Campbell, paired with the retirement of stalwart tackle Terron Armstead, left the Dolphins’ roster perilously thin. Tagovailoa’s struggles and a porous defense compounded Miami’s woes, while Hill suffered a potentially career-ending injury in Week 4, further dimming the team’s prospects. In the aftermath, Champ Kelly has stepped in as interim GM while the search for a permanent replacement begins. Meanwhile, head coach Mike McDaniel remains at the helm—at least for now. Despite an auspicious start to his tenure, McDaniel’s Dolphins have gone just 10-16 over the past two seasons, and his job security appears tenuous, with owner Ross reportedly still believing in his vision but demanding clear results. The next few weeks, including pivotal matchups against the Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders, may well determine McDaniel’s fate. For the Dolphins and their fervent fanbase, this is a moment of reckoning—a crossroads between the weight of recent failures and the hope of a brighter future. As Ross put it, “There’s much work ahead to return the Dolphins to sustained success, and that work begins now.” With the front office in flux and the season teetering, all eyes will be on Miami to see whether they can chart a new course back to relevance and, at long last, postseason glory. For more on this developing story, follow updates on ESPN’s Miami Dolphins page and the team’s official Twitter account.