Miami Dolphins and general manager Chris Grier mutually agree to part ways
Chris Grier will no longer be the general manager of the Miami Dolphins, per multiple reports.
The two sides met Friday morning and mutually agreed to part ways, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter who also reported that coach Mike McDaniel will remain with the team through the end of the season. Champ Kelly will serve as the interim general manager.
“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,” Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said in a statement. “We must improve — in 2025, 2026 and beyond — and it needs to start right now.”
Added Ross: “I have always been and remain committed to building a winning team that consistently competes for championships. 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.”
This comes amid the Dolphins’ 2-7 start to the 2025 season.
With the postseason already out of reach, the move should come as no surprise. Ross initially gave quite the ultimatum following the Dolphins’ 8-9 finish to the 2024 season that the “status quo” would not suffice.
“As we now look towards 2025, our football operation will continue to be led by Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel with my full support,” Ross said at the time in Jan. 2025. “Their positive working relationship is an asset to the Dolphins, and I believe in the value of stability. However, continuity in leadership is not to be confused with an acceptance that status quo is good enough.”
In response, Grier made several moves that could be deemed questionable in hindsight. The youth movement pivot, for example, was not initially deemed as a rebuild yet has certainly looked one.
“No, that word has not been brought up at all,” Grier said April 15 when asked if the team will undergo a rebuild. That same day, star cornerback Jalen Ramsey had requested a trade while leaders like Terron Armstead had opted to retire and Calais Campbell signed with the Arizona Cardinals around that same time. “We have a lot of really good football players on this roster still at some places that impact games, so that word has not been used at all. Our goal is to win, win this year and keep winning for sustained success in the future.”
A member of the Dolphins organization since 2000, ironically the year of Miami’s last postseason win, Grier initially joined as a scout. He eventually worked his way up and became general manager in 2016. Since then, Miami has had three coaches, compiled a record of 77-80 and made the playoffs three times.
With Grier out as general manager, it will be intriguing to see how Kelly handles the Nov. 4 trade deadline. Grier initially had refused to take calls on several players including wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, cornerback Rasul Douglas as well as edge rushers Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb and Matthew Judon, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Kelly, who previously served as the Las Vegas Raiders’ interim general manager in 2023, could certainly have a different approach.
This story was originally published October 31, 2025 at 11:25 AM.
