After the Dolphins’s season with a failure, the surprises immediately emerged.
The first of them was given by wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who announced that his time with the Miami team was fulfilled and that he will think with his family about the steps he will take for the 2025 campaign.
On the other hand, and also shortly after the Dolphins’s 32-20 defeat against the New York Jets, on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, club owner Stephen Ross issued a statement to report that coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier will return to the next campaign.
The Dolphins (8-9) were eliminated from the NFL playoffs. Denver’s Broncos (10-7) win over the Kansas City Chiefs with alternates on Sunday sealed the fate of the Dolphins.
Shortly afterward, at the press conference, McDaniel confirmed he had been ratified in office for his fourth season at the head of the club.
In his statement, Ross said he is a believer in the value of stability, but he nuanced that doesn’t mean he’s extended a blank check.
“Continuity in leadership should not be confused with accepting that the status quo [the current situation] is sufficient,” Ross wrote.
Let’s go look hard at where we fall short and make the necessary changes to achieve our goal, which is to build and sustain a winning team that competes for titles.
In previous days there were strong rumors that Grier was leaving his position as manager with the Dolphins and was to be appointed counselor.
With Ross’s announcement, Grier’s position is affirmed and in passing McDaniel’s, although the coach himself acknowledged that finishing with a losing record for the first time since 2019 was not what was expected of his job.
“Yes, it’s extremely disappointing,” the strategist described. No one faced this campaign thinking 8-9 was good. We couldn’t recover from the mistakes made.
McDaniel downplays Hill’s words
McDaniel also tried to downplay Hill’s surprise announcement, which implied that his cycle with the Dolphins was over.
The wide receiver was not available to play in the final quarter against the Jets.
Emotions skyrocket in these situations. In the next few days, there will be talks where everything will be dealt with.
McDaniel also commented on Ross’s statement that he confirms along with Grier in his respective positions.
“My total expectation is to get back in the team,” he said. My expectation is also that my relationship with Grier will continue to be as strong as it is now.
Hill’s case is a little more problematic. McDaniel said only that the coaches announced he would not have the wide receiver and decided not to use it without asking the player what was going to happen.
After the game, Hill expressed his frustration. “I have to decide what’s best for me and my family, whether it’s here [in Miami] or wherever,” the wide receiver said.
I’m opening the door, I’m out. For the first time in his nine-season career in the NFL, Hill won’t play in the playoffs, and for the second time alone he didn’t overcome the 1,000-reard barrier received in a campaign. Hill has a contract with the Dolphins until 2026 and, in 2025 will earn $27.7 million.
An in-depth analysis of the quarterback position
Many things will have to be addressed by the Dolphins for the next campaign, including the most complicated is the quarterback.
Last summer, the club committed $212.4 million to a four-year contract with Tua Tagovailoa, who lost six games (four for concussion and two for hip problem) of the campaign, including the final two.
It was shown that the team does not have a category substitute in that position, that Tua is prone to injury, and that Tyler Huntley after two interceptions and a loss of the ovoid on Sunday leaves huge doubts.
On the other hand, one of the top defensive figures Calais Campbell, 38, is likely to retire.
“I haven’t made the decision yet if Sunday was my last game,” the defensive end explained.
Let’s see how the body responds and if I want to continue this process. I don’t want to be one more that goes out on the court but to be someone who makes a difference.
