The Miami Dolphins will retain Mike McDaniel as head coach and Chris Grier as general manager for the upcoming season. Owner Stephen Ross announced their return shortly after the Dolphins concluded their season with a 32-20 defeat against the New York Jets on Sunday.
In a statement shared on X, Ross expressed his confidence in the leadership duo, saying, “As we now look towards 2025, our football operations will continue to be led by Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel with my full support. Their positive working relationship is an asset to the Dolphins, and I believe in the value of stability.”
However, Ross emphasized that continuity does not equate to complacency. “Continuity in leadership is not to be confused with an acceptance that the status quo is good enough,” he added.
The Dolphins entered the season with expectations of contending for the AFC East title but struggled to a 2-6 start before attempting a late-season playoff push. Their postseason aspirations were ultimately dashed when the Denver Broncos secured the final AFC playoff spot, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs while Miami was still on the field. The Dolphins finished the season with an 8-9 record, leading to speculation about the job security of McDaniel and Grier.
“We will take a hard look at where we have fallen short,” Ross stated, “and make the necessary changes to deliver our ultimate goal of building and sustaining a winning team that competes for championships.” He also acknowledged his own accountability for the team’s successes and failures.The Dolphins aimed to reach the playoffs for the third consecutive season, a feat the franchise has not achieved since 1999-2001.
In three seasons with Miami, McDaniel holds a regular-season record of 28-23 and is 0-2 in the playoffs. Following the game, he expressed confidence in his future with the team, stating, “My full expectation is to be back. I prefer to keep our conversations to our conversations. This is not really the platform for it, but that’s my full expectation. You have to make stuff meaningful.”He added, “If you’re going to be 8-9 and fall short of your goals, you have to find reasons why and make sure those are not the same mistakes moving forward.”
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