MIAMI GARDENS — When Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel went into team facilities Friday morning, he did so with the intention of preparing to clean up what had gone wrong in last Thursday night’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
He instead had team owner Steve Ross meet with him to break him some bad news — not regarding his own job status, but that of a close colleague and friend. The franchise had parted ways with general manager Chris Grier.
“I took the information as he delivered it and heard him,” said McDaniel on Monday, in his first public comments since the move. “For me personally, Chris is a guy that I’ve worked with every day since I’ve been here. I’m a human being and, whether it’s football or it’s life things, you know, that’s an emotional toll when you realize things are going to be different.”
After digesting the information, McDaniel, who is safe in his own job for at least this season, a source has told the South Florida Sun Sentinel, tried his best to operate how he normally does, putting the emotions of the situation behind him. He’s focusing on the coming task with his team, which is, after Tuesday’s 4 p.m. trade deadline, to face the Buffalo Bills (6-2) at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.
“Having said that, none of my job and what people depend on me for has anything to do with any of my feelings. It’s irrelevant,” he said. “My job, as it stands, is to be the head football coach and to make sure that I have a group of individuals as empowered as a team as possible so we can go to the inevitable game on Sunday at 1 o’clock and give ourselves the best chance to win.”
All players on the current Dolphins (2-7) roster were brought in with Grier having a hand in the decision.
“Obviously, first reaction, pretty shocked,” said rookie defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, who was drafted by Grier in late April. “In the NFL, things change very quickly, so just got to learn how to adapt to stuff like that.”
McDaniel touched on Champ Kelly now filling the GM role in the interim after joining the Dolphins’ front office as senior personnel executive in March.
“I’ve known Champ for a little while, gotten the opportunity to work with him directly this year,” McDaniel said. “I think he’s a guy that adds value through how he comes to work every day. He has energy and is very team-oriented and has history in this industry, particular type of scenario.”
Kelly had spent the previous three seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders as assistant GM. He was the interim GM for the second half of the 2023 season.
Trade deadline approaching
With Kelly filling that void, he is now in charge of trades through the deadline Tuesday. Miami already sent edge rusher Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles for a third-round pick Monday and could have more deals in the works.
“It’s very similar to digesting injuries after a game where you have your possibilities of players that you think that will be able to play on Sunday and sometimes those players are in question or sometimes you find out new information that they’re ruled out,” McDaniel said of handling the uncertainty.
Dolphins players are left wondering about they’re own fate or who among their peers will remain in the locker room.
“It’s tough losing some of the teammates, especially a great player like JP,” center Aaron Brewer said. “It’s part of the game, but it’s still a business at the end of the day. You hate to see it happen, but I just wish him the best.”
Tua’s status
An NFL.com report over the weekend said the Dolphins could be open to benching quarterback Tua Tagovailoa down the road if he continues to play poorly and the season continues to spiral downward.
McDaniel, affirming Tagovailoa remains the starter this week against Buffalo, addressed his quarterback.
“As the franchise quarterback, we’ve obviously shown our belief in him by putting him in the position and putting our resources towards him,” McDaniel said, speaking of the lucrative contract extension the Dolphins gave him in 2024. “All things, in football, are on the table, specifically things for this football team to win football games, but I’m far from even going down that direction.”
McDaniel maintains the team is best suited starting Tagovailoa over either backup in Zach Wilson or Quinn Ewers.
“We have a football game against the Buffalo Bills that we are certain that Tua gives us the best chance to win, and we have to approach our jobs with diligence and we have to execute,” McDaniel said. “Tua knows that heavy is the crown of being a franchise quarterback, that with the anointment of being a franchise quarterback comes the consequences of having to be on top of your game, and we’re all under the same scrutiny.
“You are on the field to give us the best chance to win, and when he doesn’t give us the best chance to win, then you adjust. … I still absolutely don’t forget all the learning lessons and the growth that Tua’s had over his career, and I’m counting on him to have the similar response from this last game.”
Injury updates
Dolphins recovering from injuries after the loss the Ravens include defensive backs Rasul Douglas and Ifeatu Melifonwu, who suffered toe injuries, and outside linebacker Chop Robinson, who is in concussion protocol.
Asked specifically about Douglas on Monday, McDaniel said he can’t rule out anyone against the Bills just yet.
“There’s bumps and bruises from the game, none of which are to the level I can rule out of next week’s game,” McDaniel said. “He’s included in that. We’ll see how the next couple of days benefit his body.”