Immediately following the loss, the Dolphins and longtime general manager Chris Grier agreed to mutually part ways. That move, made in the wake of this meltdown, may be the reset the franchise desperately needs. From the vantage point of the Dolphins organization, the loss may have ended a season—but in the same strike, it earned a chance at something better.
The Loss First
Hard Rock Stadium saw one of the darker nights in recent memory. A passionate fanbase, full of hope, watched a team fail to deliver. Mistakes piled up, coherence on offense evaporated, and the narrative of “we can’t get over the hump” felt all too familiar. The Ravens exposed Miami’s failings as many teams have over the last few years.
The ‘soft Dolphins’ narrative was highlighted, underlined, and set in bold print by the Ravens defeat, so even Ross had to make a move.
The Reset Next
When a franchise finally makes the hard organizational decision, it means one thing: “We’ve had enough.” Owner Stephen M. Ross said as much in the statement: “Change could not wait. We must improve — in 2025, 2026 and beyond — and it needs to start right now.”
What is this change be, only time will tell. With Grier gone, the Dolphins get a chance to re-examine roster construction, culture, and identity. Bottom line, the floor of the future is raised with Grier getting the boot. What Ross does going forward will raise the ceiling. You can bet with the best pay per head that removing Grier though at the very least is addition by subtraction squared with multiplication.
Why It Matters
For too long, Miami’s quarterbacks, coaches and arcs felt ephemeral—a season here, a burst there, but no sustained rise. Grier’s decade in the GM chair produced three playoff appearances—but no wins with a 77-80 record. The loss to Baltimore crystallized this: talent alone in a few spots won’t carry you if strategy and roster-fit don’t exist. The decision to remove Grier means the Dolphins are not just reacting—they’re rethinking.
But will Ross rethink his overall ownership concept? Will he continue to use the corporate structure of divisions of powers and interfere with upper management in football operations?
What Ross decides on this aspect of his ownership will determine if a top-flight GM comes here or not.
What’s Ahead
Interim GM Champ Kelly steps in, the trade-deadline looms, and the rebuild begins in earnest. Miami must now balance salvaging this season with positioning for the next. Do they trade veterans? Do they scan the draft differently? Do they commit to their young quarterback and redefine the supporting cast? All of this hinges on the new direction.
While I love that Grier is gone, if Kelly moves from interim GM to the new GM and Ross continues his corporate MO, I see improvement, but I don’t expect great things for the future. The future is brghter for sure. Still, the core of the Ross revolves around Ross not hiring the best GM and letting him be in charge of football operations.
Final Word
Yes, the loss to Baltimore stings. It reminded the Dolphins of how far they still have to go. But from the ashes of that defeat comes a rare opportunity: a franchise admitting the process wasn’t working and choosing to change it. For fans who have yearned for sustained success, this may feel like the kind of reset they’ve long hoped for. If this loss became the signal rather than the defining moment—then Miami may just have earned a future worth believing in.
Again, a correct reboot must start with Ross and his buddies at the top out of the business of sharing control of football operations with the general manager. Let’s see if we get this right, but firing Chris Grier is a great first step!
