Mike McDaniel firing row: Dolphins not over coach yet; real reason behind Chris Grier decision revealed

Mike McDaniel's job is safe, at least till February. The Miami Dolphins (2-7) on Friday made a major move, parting ways with GM Chris Grier

Updated on: Nov 1, 2025, 02:23:56 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Mike McDaniel's job is safe, at least till February. The Miami Dolphins (2-7) on Friday made a major move, parting ways with GM Chris Grier after a 10-year tenure. However, the head coach's job status is unaffected, as per insiders, even as fans have expressed severe criticism about the team's struggle this season. On Thursday, Tua Tagovailoa and co suffered a blowout 6-28 loss against the Baltimore Ravens.

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel speaks during a press conference (AP)

Grier has been a part of the Dolphins organization since 2000. He became the general manager in 2016. Under his GM tenure, Miami managed to record five winning seasons and three playoff appearances but failed to win a postseason game.

“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,” Miami owner Stephen Ross said in a statement. “

We must improve — in 2025, 2026 and beyond — and it needs to start right now.”

Dolphins senior personnel executive Champ Kelly will be Miami’s interim general manager the rest of the season.

Mike McDaniel firing row

McDaniel has faced questions about his job security all season. ESPN reported that he is expected to keep his job at least through the rest of the season.

ESPN reported that McDaniel's job is intact primarily because of Stephen Ross' realization that the issue is not the coach but the roster construction. Greer oversaw the hiring of veteran stars like Tyreek Hill, Jalen Ramsey and Bradley Chubb. In the process, homegrown talent was sidelined and Miami also lost draft picks.

“The team has not quit on McDaniel, however, and Ross still believes in the coach he hired in 2022 and extended last year. He values collaboration and communication within his organization,” the ESPN report added.

Why Chris Grier was let go

Stephen Ross' decision comes four days before the NFL trade deadline (November 4). ESPN reported that Grier was 'unwilling to trade some of Miami's more attractive trade targets'.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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