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The Miami Dolphins’ 2-7 start to the 2025 season has led to their first firing, with general manager Chris Grier receiving his pink slip on Friday. The move creates the first NFL executive job opening ahead of the upcoming offseason.
Fans expected the underwhelming Dolphins to make wholesale changes, but Grier’s name was not one that was previously brought up. Many instead thought either head coach Mike McDaniel or quarterback Tua Tagovailoa would lose their jobs first.
McDaniel holds onto his job for now, but management changes typically also result in coaching changes. Barring a complete 180-degree turn, it seems unlikely that both McDaniel and Tagovailoa will return in the same capacity in 2026.
Regardless of what comes next, the Dolphins will be among the first teams making calls to rival front offices looking for their next general manager. They will not be the only franchise making up the GM carousel, but Miami becomes the first major market team to have a vacant opening.
Although there are more overall candidates, the general manager market is not as openly discussed as the head coaching market. A lot can change over the next few months, but several prominent names have already surfaced as potential contenders to replace Grier.
Brian Xanders is one of the few former general managers who remain in play for the next round of executive hires. Xanders is currently a senior adviser for the Jacksonville Jaguars but was the Denver Broncos’ general manager from 2009 to 2012.
Despite lasting just four years, Xanders’ Broncos tenure was moderately successful. After starting with a pair of losing seasons, Denver claimed the AFC West in 2011 and 2012 under Xanders’ guidance.
A dysfunctional team like the Dolphins would benefit from hiring Xanders, whose background is in player personnel. His Broncos teams also thrived in the draft and their ensuing player development during his stint as general manager.
Xanders was responsible for drafting Von Miller, Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Derek Wolfe and Danny Trevathan to Denver.
Considering how well the Indianapolis Colts are being run in 2025, it is only a matter of time before rivals begin picking at their cornerstones. First-year owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon is rightfully receiving a bulk of the credit, but teams have begun to take notice of assistant general manager Ed Dodds.
Dodds has been a potential general manager for years, ever since he helped Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks build the ‘Legion of Boom.’ He was recently a finalist for the Tennessee Titans before they hired Mike Borgonzi and previously received interest from the Carolina Panthers and Las Vegas Raiders.
If the Colts keep winning the way they do, Dodds could quickly become the top general manager candidate during the next round of hiring.
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