There’s chatter around NFL circles that Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier could soon retire and move to a senior advisor role with the franchise, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported Saturday.
“Many have questioned whether the 84-year-old Stephen Ross would want to conduct a search for a new GM, especially considering how well-liked Grier is within the building,” Jones added in his report.
In nine seasons with Grier at the helm, the Dolphins have developed into a consistently good-but-not-great team. If the team can earn a win Sunday against the New York Jets, it would secure a fifth consecutive winning record and, possibly, a third straight trip to the playoffs.
But the team is still looking for its first postseason victory since 2000, as wins on the biggest stages have eluded the franchise throughout Grier’s tenure.
At the top of the list of criticisms of Grier’s management of the roster is the team’s struggles to win in the trenches. Amid abundant concerns about the state of the Dolphins’ interior offensive line, Grier told reporters in August “you guys are probably more worried than we are” about the issue. Now the team is 31st in the NFL in rushing yards per carry and poor play from guards Robert Jones and Liam Eichenberg jump out as the biggest reason for the struggles.
It was also evident in August that the Dolphins had serious concerns at backup quarterback. But it wasn’t until Tua Tagovailoa got hurt in September that the team identified Ravens practice squad passer Tyler Huntley was a better option than Skylar Thompson.
It hasn’t helped either that injuries have stacked up for the Dolphins at almost every position in 2024. While luck plays a significant role in that, Grier has done little to avoid drafting and signing players with histories of injuries.
Still, the Dolphins have also made shrewd moves to add stars like Tyreek Hill, Jalen Ramsey, and Bradley Chubb to the roster. In the 2024 offseason, Miami signed several impact free agents, including Calais Campbell, Jonnu Smith, Jordyn Brooks, and Aaron Brewer. In the draft, the team picked Chop Robinson, who is second among all rookies in sacks.
Grier, 54, began his scouting career with the New England Patriots in 1994 and joined the Dolphins’ scouting staff in 2000. He took over as the team’s general manager in 2016.
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