Miami Dolphins promote Chris Grier to GM

The Miami Dolphins have opted to promote former director of college scouting Chris Grier to general manager, replacing the departed Dennis Hickey.

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross acted swiftly in replacing former general manager Dennis Hickey by promoting former director of college scouting Chris Grier to the head of the front office. ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed that this deal was official early Monday morning.

Grier had been in the Dolphins organization the last 15 years, spending the last eight in his former role of director of college scouting. Before coming to Miami, Grier had spent five seasons with the AFC East rival New England Patriots.

Ross spoke highly of his new general manager Sunday afternoon after the Dolphins’ surprising Week 17 victory to move to 6-10 on the year, though he did not say it had been finalized Sunday afternoon.

The Dolphins will likely look for a new head coach, as Ross fired former head coach Joe Philbin after the Dolphins’ Week 4 loss in London. The interim tag won’t likely be removed for Philbin’s replacement Dan Campbell, as Ross and Grier are expected to look elsewhere for their organization’s next head coach.

What Miami has going for it is that the roster that Hickey built isn’t all that far away from being competitive. Many thought that the Dolphins would contend for an AFC playoff spot in 2015, however that was not the case. Ryan Tannehill has promise at quarterback and there are great players scattered all across the gridiron.

Grier will partner with Ross in helping the Dolphins find and secure their next head coach. Most of the names that have circulated with the Miami vacancy are that of former NFL head coaches. It seems that Grier and Ross will go with a guy that already has head coaching experience, something Philbin did not have when he left Green Bay a few years ago.