Despite missing the post-season, Miami feels confident in their leadership group.
Dolphins owner Stephen M. Ross announced in a statement Sunday that they plan to retrain head coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier next season.
“As we look towards 2025, our football operation will continue to be led by Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel with my full support,” Ross said. “Their positive working relationship is an asset to the Dolphins, and I believe in the value of stability.”
Ross did however make it clear that the team fell below expectations this season, and the decision to stick with the same power structure does not mean that he believes this season was “good enough.”
The Dolphins ended their year with a 32-20 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday, dropping their record to 8-9, good for second place in the AFC East but two games behind the final wild-card spot. They needed to beat the Jets and then see the Denver Broncos lose if they wanted to make the playoffs.
This will be the first time the Dolphins miss the playoffs under McDaniel since he was hired ahead of the 2022 season. They lost in the wild-card round in their previous two appearances.
McDaniel told reporters after the game that his “full expectation” is that he will return to the Dolphins for a fourth season.
Grier has overseen the team since 2016, leading them to three playoff appearances in his nine-year tenure but never making it past the wild card round.
The decision to keep Grier and McDaniel comes after superstar wide receiver Tyreek Hill told reporters after the loss to the Jets that he intends to leave Miami. Hill signed a three-year extension before this season and is under contract through 2026.
“We will take a hard look at where we have fallen short and make the necessary changes to deliver our ultimate goal of building and sustaining a winning team that competes for championships,” Ross said.
