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The Miami Dolphins shook things up on Friday when they announced they were mutually parting ways with general manager Chris Grier.
After a lot of disappointment, Thursday night’s collapse at home to the Baltimore Ravens seemed to be the last straw for both sides, and they mutually ended their relationship.
However, Stephen A. Smith seemed to believe that the pages were using a technicality to avoid saying that Grier lost his job. He later appeared to question why Grier, who is Black, was “fired” before head coach Mike McDaniel.
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Stephen A. Smith and former Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images; Jim Rassol/The Palm Beach Post/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
“This is BS. This is the first fire? Really? Is this what we’re doing?” It was about Tua [Tagovailoa]. It was about Mike McDaniel. And the brother gets fired first?” Smith said when the news broke while on “First Take.”
“I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve it because of the way they look. You’re at the helm, I get it. I get it. I’m all for brothers as head coaches and GMs. We know the battles I’ve been fighting for over 30 years. I got it.
“But when you don’t get the job done, you don’t get the damn job done. I got it. Don’t tell me it’s just him. Don’t tell me we’re leaving Mike McDaniel in place and we’re just firing him and we’re moving it. Damn. I’m waiting for more news.
“I can’t defend Chris Grier. … But I’ll be damned if it stops there. Oh, hell no.”
McDaniel has African-American ancestry from his grandmother.
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel speak to reporters. (Hal Habib/The Palm Beach Post/USA Today Network)
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Grier, 55, had been with the organization since 2000 and served as the team’s general manager since 2016.
“This morning, I made the decision with general manager Chris Grier to mutually part ways. I have tremendous 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,” Dolphins managing general partner Stephen M. Ross said in a 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 have to improve – in 2025, 2026 and beyond – and it has 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 success this season and the Dolphins’ commitment to playing football is very much back. everyone must fight even harder.”
Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier will not take the field before the game between the Miami Dolphins and the Tennessee Titans at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on September 30, 2024. (Jasen Vinlove/Imagn Images)
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In Grier’s nearly ten-year tenure as general manager, he had a 77-80 record with three playoff appearances. They reached the playoffs in 2016, 2022 and 2023, losing in the wild card round all three times.
