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Miami, FL - The Miami Dolphins announced on Sunday that head coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier will return for the 2025 season after a disappointing 8-9 finish in 2024.
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross made the announcement on Sunday in a statement shared on the team's official X (formerly Twitter) account.
Ross emphasized the importance of stability in leadership while also acknowledging the need for improvement.
“As we now look towards 2025, our football operations will continue to be led by Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel with my full support,” Ross stated. “Their positive working relationship is an asset to the Dolphins, and I believe in the value of stability. However, continuity in leadership is not to be confused with an acceptance that status quo is good enough.”
The Dolphins entered the season with high expectations, aiming to compete for the AFC East title.
However, a sluggish 2-6 start put their postseason hopes in jeopardy.
Despite a late-season surge, Miami's playoff aspirations were officially extinguished when the Denver Broncos clinched the AFC's final playoff spot after beating Kansas City.
Miami finished the season with an 8-9 record, raising speculation about the job security of McDaniel and Grier.
Ross addressed these concerns directly, asserting his commitment to improvement.
“We will take a hard look at where we have fallen short,” Ross said. “And make the necessary changes to deliver our ultimate goal of building and sustaining a winning team that competes for championships.”
Ross also took personal accountability for the team's performance, stating, “I am ultimately accountable for our successes and failures.”
The Dolphins were attempting to secure their third consecutive playoff appearance, a milestone the franchise hasn't achieved since 1999-2001.
However, they fell short, and McDaniel now carries a 28-23 regular-season record with a 0-2 playoff record after three seasons at the helm.
Following the game, McDaniel expressed his expectation to return, saying, “My full expectation is to be back. Really, you focus on—you have to make stuff meaningful. If you’re going to be 8-9 and fall short of your goals, you have to find reasons why and make sure those are not the same mistakes moving forward.”