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The Miami Dolphins shook things up Friday when they announced they were parting ways with general manager Chris Grier.
After much disappointment, Thursday night’s blowout home loss to the Baltimore Ravens seemed to be the final straw for both parties, and they mutually ended their relationship.
Stephen A. Smith, however, seemed to believe that the parties had used a technicality to avoid saying that Grier had 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 do?” It was about Tua [Tagovailoa]. It was Mike McDaniel. And the brother gets fired first?,” Smith said when the news broke while he was 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 the Friars as head coaches and general managers. We know the battles I’ve been fighting for over 30 years. I get it.
“But when you don’t do the job, you don’t do the damn job. I get it. Don’t tell me it’s just him. Don’t tell me we’re going to leave Mike McDaniel in place, and we’re just going to fire him and we’re going to move this. 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 part ways. I have incredible 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 general managing partner Stephen M. Ross said in a statement.
“In assessing the state of the team and in my discussions with Chris, it became clear to both of us that change could not wait. We must improve – in 2025, 2026 and beyond – and that must start 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 his commitment to the success of the Dolphins this season. There is plenty of football left to play and We all have to fight harder.”
Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier walks on 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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During Grier’s tenure as general manager, which lasted nearly a decade, he had a 77-80 record with three playoff appearances. They made the playoffs in 2016, 2022 and 2023 and lost in the wild-card round three times.
