After yet another crushing defeat, something had to give. For the Miami Dolphins, that call came with general manager Chris Grier and owner Stephen Ross deciding to “mutually part ways.” The biggest question now: how long will coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa stick around? As NFL insider Tom Pelissero sees it, probably at least one more year, because of trust, vision, and a huge contract.

“Mike is another guy that Stephen Ross believes in. He extended his contract in the prior offseason in 2024. … they are locked in with Tua Tagovailoa for over $50 million fully guaranteed in 2026,” Pelissero put it on the Rich Eisen Show.

Tua’s contract is a key piece of this puzzle. With $50 million guaranteed in 2026 and a documented history of injuries (concussions, mostly), he’s a risky bet. A new GM might want to bring in a new head coach and might not want to stick with Tua, given his reputation for getting battered and bruised. McDaniel, on the other hand, has been the biggest reason Tua has stuck around even in the face of mounting doubts. That partnership is expensive, sure, but it’s also proven.

Together, they turned Miami’s offense into one of the NFL’s best in 2023. But this season, the offense has sputtered and the energy has faded. The fans’ boos are only overshadowed by their losing hope and leaving games early. Still, the franchise seems to preserve continuity. Pelissero suggested changes might be coming, but they will be done to benefit Tua and McDaniel.

“Give them one more shot with a lot of different moves in terms of personnel, with a new GM or maybe a head of football operations calling the shots here, and then you make the decisions at the end of 2026. … where you’re tied for that much money to a quarterback that the coach has shown he can get the most out of – don’t discount the possibility here of Mike McDaniel still getting another crack at this in 2026.”

So, Mike McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa could both run it back, despite how this season goes. Tagovailoa won’t be a feasible trade candidate until his guaranteed payday is up, and that leaves Miami with their existing head coach and starting quarterback getting a big chance to prove they can still make the Dolphins serious contenders.

But with Chris Grier now gone, Miami faces a major and immediate rebuild. Still, the focus seems to be rebuilding with care, not a fire sale.

Chris Grier’s exit and Miami’s front office shake-up

Hours before the official announcement regarding Chris Grier dropped, coach McDaniel had hinted that a big change could be brewing in Miami. He also noted that it is up to him to spark a change for his 2-7 team.

“I have to continue to find ways to reach people,” McDaniel said. “Sometimes it cost people their opportunity to play and their jobs. If it’s not a better option for the team, or irresponsible… then you have to recreate a different set of circumstances to get it done.”

It almost seemed like McDaniel dropped a hint of the big change Miami will now go through. Chris Grier’s departure is a big deal. He’s been with the Dolphins since 2000, GM since 2016. His tenure saw 77 wins, 80 losses, and three playoff berths without a postseason win. But this season has proven to be the breaking point. As owner, Stephen Ross noted in his statement:

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

Champ Kelly, the senior personnel executive, steps in as interim GM while Miami looks for a new leader. Miami could also look for some heavy roster additions now with the trade deadline fast approaching. Ross’s message to the fans was clear: Miami deserves a “championship-caliber team” they can rally behind. The road there won’t be easy, but step one was saying goodbye to Grier. McDaniel and Tua remain tied to that future, for better or worse.