Kelly: Building from Packers blueprint might be beneficial in Dolphins new era | Opinion
The first thing we need to know about newly hired Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan is that nobody calls him by his first name.
In fact, if you did, he woul know you’re either a stranger or wanted something.
That explains why any time I asked people around the league about Sullivan this week using his government name the initial response was “WHO?”
It’s either J.E., or Sulli” I’ve been told.
“Jon-Eric is a lot to spit out,” Sullivan said in an interview that can be found on the Green Bay Packers’ website. “I don’t like introducing myself as Jon-Eric because I see people tilt their head and wonder, ‘Is this your first and middle name? Is this your whole first and last name?’”
Sullivan seemingly likes to keep things simple, and that comes from his roots as the son of a former college and NFL receivers coach, a college football player who began his career in the SEC at South Carolina, and then transferred to Gardner-Webb, a Division I-AA school, for more playing time.
He worked in the corporate world before missing football, and his father’s connections got him a foot in the door with the Packers, which hired him as a front-office intern for one summer, and then called him back, offering a full-time job a year later.
Green Bay’s where Sullivan started, and where he has been since 2004.
“He’s the most polished and prepared of all the candidates they talked to. He’s got a background in everything he needs, and comes from a good tree,” an NFL general manager said on the condition of anonymity. “He’s ready, but he’s got work to do.”
That’s probably what attracted him to the Dolphins’ general manager opening, which is one of two available this hiring cycle. Miami’s a blank slate at this point.
Sullivan has worked his way up the NFL’s smallest, but one of its most historic franchises, the hard way.
“He’s a grinder,” another executive said. “Never been part of the frat boy crew.”
That hints that Sullivan isn’t ultra connected, and is looking to climb up the NFL ranks on his own merit, not who he knows, or who represents him, which is how the Matrix of the NFL typically works.
“Solid evaluator,” one former co-worker said.
With this hire, the Dolphins will likely follow the Green Bay model now, which means South Florida’s NFL franchise will rely on the draft to build the franchise’s foundation, and put an emphasis on developing its own talent.
That requires a quality coaching staff (which is to be determined after Thursday’s firing of Mike McDaniel).
Sullivan’s background hints he will draft a quarterback early, and often because that is the Packers way, which was instilled during the Ron Wolf era.
Wolf established a deep “tree” of successful general managers and executives across the league, which includes his son Eliot Wolf (who runs the New England Patriots), the late Ted Thompson, Reggie McKenzie (former Raiders GM and Dolphins executive), Alonzo Highsmith (Hurricanes legend and senior personnel executive in New England), John Schneider (who runs the Seahawks), and Brian Gutekunst (Packers GM), who are all known for scouting-heavy, and leaning on the “best player available” approach to drafting.
Using that blueprint Wolf transformed the Packers into a dynasty with shrewd moves like trading for quarterback Brett Favre and signing Reggie White, setting a standard for organizational success through diligent scouting.
The Packers drafted multiple quarterbacks during Favre’s Hall of Fame career, and one of them turned into Aaron Rodgers, who is putting the finishing touches on his own Hall of Fame career.
During Rodgers’ run of MVP-worthy seasons the Packers selected Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 Draft, and handed him the keys to the franchise in 2023. Love has delivered three straight nine-win seasons with a career passer rating of 96.8 since replacing Rodgers.
While Love isn’t yet viewed as one of the NFL’s elites at his position, he could very well be on his way, especially if the Packers advance deep in the playoffs the next few weeks.
In the games Love has missed the past two seasons Malik Willis, a former Tennessee Titans third-round pick the Packers traded for two years ago, has stepped up and led Green Bay to victories.
In the 22 games Willis has played the past four seasons he has completed 67.7% of his passes, throwing for 1,322 yards with six touchdown passes and three interceptions. He has also rushed for 405 yards and four touchdowns on 74 attempts, and owns a 98.9 career passer rating.
Willis will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and is likely searching for an opportunity to become an NFL starter.
Ironically, or not, the Dolphins will be searching for a starting quarterback to build around this offseason.
It would be premature to connect the Sullivan-to-Willis dots right now, especially without knowing who replaces McDaniel as the Dolphins’ next head coach, or what Willis’ asking price and desires are because the 26-year-old, who grew up in Georgia, has plenty to say in his future.
But at least we know Sullivan has seen Willis up close and personal for two seasons, and has been part of the inner workings of a winning organization for two decades.
There’s no guarantee he will immediately fix the Dolphins’ culture problem, hire the hot coach everyone’s lusting for, and fix this quarterback riddle that has traumatized this franchise for two decades.
What we do know is that he has earned this opportunity, and will likely follow a proven blueprint that has worked in the NFL for decades.
