The Miami Dolphins’ Monday decision to fire head coach Brian Flores as unquestionably the most surprising termination of employment in 2022’s Black Monday firing cycle. Handed a lackluster roster and a rancid culture after the Adam Gase experience, Flores rose to 10-6 in his second season of 2020 despite the fact that his team was obviously tanking for more and better draft picks. 2021 started with a 1-7 record, but the Dolphins won eight of their last nine games, and it seemed as if everything was finally on the right track.
Team owner Stephen Ross did not agree.
“I made a decision today to part ways with Brian Flores,” Ross said in a statement. “After evaluating where we are as an organization and what we need going forward to improve, I determined that key dynamics of our football organization weren’t functioning at a level I want it to be and felt that this decision was in the best interest of the Miami Dolphins. I believe we have a talented young roster in place and have the opportunity to be much better in 2022. I want to thank Brian for his hard work and wish him nothing but the best in his future.”
The players Flores coached were less sure about the move, and many of them were obviously — and publicly — emotional after it happened.