Dolphins Clean House: Sullivan Hired, McDaniel Fired in Massive Rebuild
Key Takeaways
- The New Boss: Green Bay Packers VP Jon-Eric Sullivan is Miami’s new GM, replacing Chris Grier (fired in Oct. 2025).
- The Exit: Head Coach Mike McDaniel was fired Thursday after a disappointing 7-10 finish and a second straight missed postseason.
- The Crisis: Sullivan inherits a salary cap nightmare, headlined by Tua Tagovailoa’s suffocating $56.4 million cap hit for 2026.
- The Search: Early coaching targets include Packers DC Jeff Hafley and former Super Bowl winner Mike McCarthy.
Ross has tabbed Jon-Eric Sullivan, the Green Bay Packers’ long-serving VP of player personnel, to take the wheel. The move signals a desperate pivot from the Chris Grier era, which ended unceremoniously in October. But Sullivan isn’t walking into a turnkey operation; he is walking into a salary cap minefield.
The McDaniel Era Ends
The writing was on the wall, but the timing still sent shockwaves through South Florida. Just days after stating he expected to be part of the GM interview process, Mike McDaniel was shown the door. The firing comes four days after a dispiriting season finale capped a 7-10 campaign—a far cry from the offensive fireworks that defined his early tenure.
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McDaniel leaves Miami with a 35-33 record, zero playoff wins, and an offense that sputtered when it mattered most. The “offensive genius” label couldn’t save him from the reality of a regression that saw the Dolphins miss the postseason for two consecutive years.
Sullivan’s Resume: A Scout’s Scout
If you want to know why Ross picked Sullivan, look at the track record. The son of legendary coach Jerry Sullivan, Jon-Eric didn’t skip the line. He started as a training camp intern in Green Bay in 2003 and ground his way up:
- 2003-2015: Area Scout (Southwest/Southeast)
- 2016: Director of College Scouting
- 2022: VP of Player Personnel
He is widely credited in league circles as a key architect behind Green Bay’s ability to constantly reload its roster without tanking a skill Miami desperately needs.
Read More: Dolphins Fire Mike McDaniel: NFL Coaching Vacancies Hit 8
The $56 Million Elephant in the Room
Sullivan’s first week will be dominated by one name: Tua Tagovailoa.
The quarterback situation is toxic. Tagovailoa was benched late in the season, and his contract is an albatross. He carries a massive $56.4 million cap hit for 2026. If Sullivan decides to cut him before June 1, it triggers a catastrophic $99.2 million dead cap hit. Trading him requires finding a partner willing to absorb that contract—a tall order for a QB coming off a benching.
Who Coaches Next?
With Sullivan firmly in place, the coaching search will likely lean heavily on his Green Bay connections. The shortlist is already taking shape:
“If Green Bay were to part ways with Matt LaFleur, he would immediately become a hot name. Until then, expect Sullivan to look at the men standing next to him.”
Jeff Hafley (Packers DC): A defensive specialist who could bring a harder edge to a team often accused of being “soft.”
Mike McCarthy: A proven winner with a Super Bowl ring who knows how to work with Sullivan.
Anthony Campanile (Jaguars DC): A former Dolphins assistant who knows the building and brings fiery leadership.
The Dolphins aren’t just changing names on office doors; they are tearing the studs out of the house. For Sullivan, the honeymoon will be short. He has to fix the cap, solve the quarterback riddle, and hire a coach—all before the draft clock starts ticking.
