The first to go for the Miami Dolphins is not coach Mike McDaniel but general manager Chris Grier.

According tro ESPN, McDaniel will remain coach of the Dolphins for at least the remainder of the season.

As for Grier, he and the Dolphins mutually agreed to part ways Friday morning, according to a league source shortly before a team announcement.

“This morning, I made the decision along with general manager Chris Grier to mutually part ways,” Dolphins owner Steve Ross said in a statement released Friday morning. “I have incredible respect for Chris and his family, and I want to thank him for his many contributions to the Miami Dolphins over the past 26 years.”

According to multiple reports, senior personnel executive Champ Kelly will take over as interim GM.

Grier first joined the Dolphins in 2000, which incidentally is the last season the Dolphins won a playoff game. He started out as a scout, was director of college scouting from 2007 through 2015 and took over as GM beginning in 2016. With Mike Tannenbaum still with the team through 2018, Grier became the franchise’s top football decision-maker beginning with the 2019 rebuild.

The Dolphins made playoff appearances with Grier working in tandem with McDaniel in 2022 and 2023, but a disappointing 8-9 2024 season has been compounded by a 2-7 start in 2025.

“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,” Ross continued in his statement. “We must improve — in 2025, 2026 and beyond — and it needs to start right now. Champ Kelly will serve as interim general manager effective immediately, and we will begin our search process for a new general manager. I want to thank Champ for stepping up and his commitment to the Dolphins success this season. There is a lot of football left to play and we all need to fight even harder.”

The final straw was Thursday night’s 28-6 drubbing at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens at home. It was the second loss by at least three touchdowns in 12 days for Miami, with a surprising 34-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday in between.

The NFL trade deadline looms on Tuesday, and Kelly will now be in line to make potential moves as the Dolphins begin a search to hire a full-time replacement for Grier.

This story will be updated.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/31/dolphins-gm-chris-grier-mutually-agree-to-part-ways/