The Dolphins fired McDaniel and hired a new GM. What’s next?
The terror started on Halloween.
After one fatal conversation, Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and general manager Chris Grier “mutually agreed” to part ways. The team would go 5-3 during the final stretch of season, punctuated by a victory over the Buffalo Bills, a playoff elimination and a quarterback change. Then came the firing of coach Mike McDaniel.
Brighter days, however, might be ahead. The Dolphins hired Green Bay Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan on Friday, a swift move not even a week removed from the end of the regular season.
“What an incredible honor it is to serve as general manager of the Miami Dolphins, an organization of history, tradition and great pride,” Sullivan said in a statement. “I want to express my gratitude to Stephen Ross and his family for this exceptional opportunity and the belief they’ve placed in me to lead this storied franchise forward.”
Analysts praised the move, highlighting Sullivan’s extensive scouting background as evidenced by his own philosophy, yet most importantly, the focus will now shift to the coaching search and subsequently franchise quarterback.
“I’ve always been taught that the draft is your lifeblood if you will,” Sullivan told Packers broadcaster Larry McCarren in 2023. “You build through the draft. It’s a young man’s game. You want to make sure that you’re acquiring young, talented players that fit your culture. I think you supplement through free agency.”
John Harbaugh would be the obvious choice. Super Bowl-winning coaches don’t grow on trees. In many ways, he would be a dream hire, bringing nearly 20 years of head coaching experience and more than a dozen playoff wins.
Sure, Harbaugh and Ross have the University of Michigan connection. The former’s family will forever be legendary in Ann Arbor, Michigan. As the patriarch, Jack initially served as a coach during the ‘70s while John’s brother, Jim, quarterbacked the Wolverines during the ‘80s only to later return and lead the school to its first national title this century. Ross, of course, attended undergrad at Michigan which alter renamed its business school in his honor.
The Dolphins finally reached out to Harbaugh on Saturday, according to multiple reports, but also requested interviews with several other candidates. That list includes former Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, the grandson of the legendary Dolphins coach.
A coach hire will then put the onus on the newly formed tandem to find a franchise quarterback. McDaniel put the situation quite plainly in his end of year press conference.
“There will be competition for our starting quarterback,” McDaniel said Monday. “What that is and how it looks, there’s a lot that remains to be seen. It’s the most important position on the football field, and you have to make sure that you do everything possible to get the best person out there on the field. Who that is, whether they’re in-house or somewhere else, that’s something that we’ll be extremely diligent on, but I know that there will be competition for those reins.”
The two quarterbacks on the roster – Tua Tagovailoa and Quinn Ewers – ave question marks. Despite Tagovailoa being guaranteed $54 million in 2026, the former Alabama standout’s play likely suggests he won’t play another down in Miami. Tagovailoa regressed considerably in 2025, tossing the second most interceptions in the NFL with 15.
Ewers, on the other hand, showed flashes in his threes-game stint as a starter but not enough to firmly secure the QB1 role. Odds are, the quarterback of the future doesn’t currently reside on the Dolphins – especially when you consider a new GM-coach pairing wants to select their own guy.
Without a full understanding of the Packers prospects whose selection that he was most instrumental in outside of quarterback Jordan Love, it’s impossible to judge what he wants to do in Miami. Take him solely by his words.
“As we forge ahead, we will build a football team that is resilient, physical and tough,” Sullivan said in a statement. “We will compete no matter the circumstances, with the ultimate goal of competing for division championships and Super Bowls. Our team building process will be intentional, disciplined and sound.”
This story was originally published January 10, 2026 at 12:37 PM.
