Dolphins, general manager Chris Grier mutually agree to part ways; Champ Kelly to serve as interim GM - NFL.com

After a 2-7 start -- their worst since 2021 -- Miami has mutually agreed to part ways with general manager Chris Grier, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Friday. The team has since announced the news.

"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 M. Ross said in a statement. "We must improve -- in 2025, 2026 and beyond -- and it needs to start right now."

Veteran personnel man Champ Kelly will serve as interim general manager, the second such time he's replaced a GM during a season (he assumed the role vacated by Dave Ziegler in Las Vegas in 2023).

"I want to thank Champ for stepping up and his commitment to the Dolphins success this season," Ross said. "There is a lot of football left to play and we all need to fight even harder."

Grier had been the GM in Miami since 2016. The Dolphins compiled a 77-80 record with Grier at the helm, appearing in the playoffs three times but achieving no postseason wins.

While somewhat surprising, a change felt inevitable for Miami. The decision comes on the heels of the Dolphins' lopsided loss to the Ravens on Thursday night in a game in which Miami's self-inflicted errors prevented them from keeping pace with Baltimore, much to the dismay of the home crowd at Hard Rock Stadium.

The Week 9 defeat was only the latest in a tumultuous campaign in which Miami has vacillated between appearing disinterested or battling competitively. Just one week earlier, the Dolphins traveled to Atlanta and dominated the Falcons, 34-10, proving they were still capable of such a performance a mere seven days after crumbling in a loss to the lowly Browns in Cleveland.

Grier's dismissal is about more than just a few ugly losses. Despite offering promising potential, Miami has consistently failed to live up to expectations over the last four years -- the span of time that defines the Mike McDaniel era -- reaching the playoffs twice in 2022 and 2023 but falling in the Wild Card Round in both appearances.

Their struggles in 2024 could be blamed on Tua Tagovailoa's extended absence; 2025, however, included Tagovailoa and the product was much worse, leading many to expect the Dolphins to fire McDaniel after their Week 7 loss to Cleveland.

McDaniel remains employed, coaching a team constructed by Grier, Miami's general manager for nearly a decade. Ultimately, Grier's most recent attempt to mold the Dolphins into a winner proved fruitless and prompted change.