Miami Dolphins Part Ways with Chris Grier, Signaling a Long-Overdue Reset

After more than two decades of inconsistency, frustration, and mediocrity, the Miami Dolphins have finally parted ways with general manager Chris Grier, according to Adam Schefter. The move marks the end of an era defined by missed opportunities, front-office dysfunction, and an inability to build a consistent contender. For a fan base that has endured 25 years of false hope and fleeting success, this decision feels like it came much later than it should have.

Grier’s tenure represents nearly the entirety of Miami’s modern struggles. He joined the organization in 2000, working his way up through the scouting department before becoming general manager in 2016. During that time, the Dolphins cycled through head coaches, quarterbacks, and rebuilds at a dizzying rate, yet the results rarely changed. The team has made the playoffs just five times since 2000 (3 times with Grier as GM) and has not won a postseason game since 2000.

Under Grier’s direction, Miami had nine years without a playoff win, the longest such GM drought in the league, many General Managers would have never made it that long.

Under Grier’s direction, Miami often felt directionless. The franchise’s approach to roster construction fluctuated between half-measures and overreactions. The 2019 rebuild promised a fresh start, but even that has sputtered. Draft classes produced talent in spurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, and Jevon Holland among them but the misses, from failed offensive line investments to questionable coaching hires, to signing injury prone veterans, it has all outweighed the hits.

Grier’s partnership with head coach Mike McDaniel showed flashes of innovation, yet even that pairing has stalled. The Dolphins built one of the league’s fastest offenses but never developed the physical or mental toughness required to win when it mattered most. Whether it was late-season collapses, playoff no-shows, or chronic injuries at key positions, the results spoke louder than the promises and the constant reiteration of “you guys are more worried than we are” grew old on the fans.

Now, with Grier gone, Miami faces another crossroads. Owner Stephen Ross must finally find a leader who can bring alignment and accountability to an organization that has lacked both for decades. The next general manager must focus on long-term sustainability instead of short-term patches, on building depth instead of chasing splashy signings, and on fostering stability in the most critical areas, quarterback, offensive line, and culture.

The Dolphins’ history since the turn of the millennium has been a case study in dysfunction. The front office has cycled through philosophies without ever committing to one. The team has often appeared more concerned with image than infrastructure.  And while Grier’s departure will not instantly fix that, it gives Miami and their fans something it has not had in a long time: a clean slate.

For the first time in years, the Dolphins have a chance to redefine who they are and what they stand for. If they are serious about ending the cycle of disappointment, it starts now with a new vision, a new leader, and a willingness to confront the mistakes that have kept them stuck for a generation.