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The Miami Dolphins have parted ways with general manager Chris Grier following a nightmare 2-7 start to the season.
The franchise met with Grier on Friday morning, less than 24 hours after the team's latest humiliating defeat to the Baltimore Ravens. Both parties mutually agreed to part ways, the team confirmed.
The decision marks a major shakeup in Miami with Grier having served as the Dolphins' general manager since 2016 but, despite recent results, head coach Mike McDaniel doesn't appear to be on the chopping block - yet.
Senior personnel executive Champ Kelly is set to take over as interim general manager with the Dolphins next playing on November 9 against divisional rivals, the Buffalo Bills, allowing for a lengthy adjustment period.
'This morning, I made the decision along with general manager Chris Grier to mutually part ways. I have incredible respect for Chris and his family, and I want to thank him for his many contributions to the Miami Dolphins over the past 26 years,' a statement from owner Stephen Ross read.
'As I assessed the state of the team and in my discussions with Chris, it became clear to both of us that change could not wait. We must improve — in 2025, 2026 and beyond — and it needs to start right now. Champ Kelly will serve as interim general manager effective immediately, and we will begin our search process for a new general manager. I want to thank Champ for stepping up and his commitment to the Dolphins success this season. There is a lot of football left to play and we all need to fight even harder.'
The Miami Dolphins have parted ways with general manager Chris Grier following 2-7 start
Head coach Mike McDaniel is reportedly expected to keep his job until the end of the season
Just two weeks into the woeful season, Dolphins fans had flown a banner over Hard Rock Stadium calling for Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel to be fired.
McDaniel has long considered to be in the hotseat but it was Grier who was the first casualty of the Dolphins' struggles. Miami is expected to stick with McDaniel as head coach until the end of the season, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Grier first joined the franchise as a scout in 2000, which is ironically the last time the Dolphins won a playoff game, before working his way up to GM. Since he took the helm almost a decade ago, the Dolphins are 76-77 on his watch.
During his tenure as GM, Miami has made just three trips to the postseason, which have all ended in a miserable loss at the first hurdle.
Following two straight playoff appearances in 2022 and 2023, including an 11-win season in the latter year, Miami has gone off the rails in recent seasons. The team went 8-9 last season before making their woeful 2-7 start this year.
''I have always been and remain committed to building a winning team that consistently competes for championships,' Ross's statement continued.
'I am incredibly proud of our leadership as an NFL organization and our continued commitment to the community, but our performance on the field and our team-building process have not been good enough. There are no excuses.
'I want to thank the fans for their continued support and passion for this team. You deserve a championship-caliber team you can be proud of. There's much work ahead to return the Dolphins to sustained success, and that work begins now, finishing the season strong, evaluating all areas of our football operation, and moving forward with a clear vision for the future.'
Miami owner Stephen Ross met with Grier following his team's 28-6 defeat to the Ravens
Despite a surprise victory over the Atlanta Falcons last weekend, the Dolphins fell to a humiliating 28-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night, which was littered with self-inflicted errors.
It marked the seventh defeat of the season for the beleaguered Dolphins, with only the New York Jets, Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints possessing a worse record at 1-7 ahead of their respective Week 9 games.
Among those high-profile losses came the demoralizing Cleveland Browns defeat and a close loss to the Carolina Panther.
Yet, the tensions haven't been restricted to the field. There has also been suggestion of dysfunction in the locker room.
Earlier in the season, starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa called out some of his teammates for arriving late to team activities - only to walk those comments back.
More to follow.
