The Miami Dolphins made a seismic decision Friday. The question now becomes: Will there be an even bigger aftershock?
The Fins are hiring Jon-Eric Sullivan, formerly the vice president of player personnel for the Green Bay Packers, as their new general manager, according to multiple reports. The move comes just a day after owner Stephen Ross fired head coach Mike McDaniel following his fourth season, Miami’s second straight without a playoff berth.
The Dolphins’ next move is obviously to find McDaniel’s successor. Sullivan’s arrival could be an indication that the next coach won’t be John Harbaugh, who was fired by the Baltimore Ravens earlier this week, ending his 18-year tenure. Miami had interviewed Los Angeles Chargers assistant GM Chad Alexander, who spent much of his 20 seasons in Baltimore working alongside Harbaugh, as a candidate for the job that went to Sullivan.
Per multiple reports, Ross did not fire McDaniel merely because of Harbaugh’s unexpected availability but instead independently decided the franchise needed a new direction.
Sullivan had been affiliated with the Packers since interning for them during training camp in 2003 − back when Brett Favre was the face of the franchise. Sullivan was in Green Bay with currently unemployed coach Mike McCarthy and was a scout when the Pack won their most recent Super Bowl at the conclusion of the 2010 season. Sullivan is also the son of longtime NFL assistant Jerry Sullivan, a Miami native who was the Dolphins’ wide receivers coach in 2004.
Jon-Eric Sullivan had been in his VP role with the Packers since 2022, promoted after years of scouting college players.
The Dolphins haven’t won a playoff game in 25 years, the longest such drought in the league. Miami has not won the AFC East title since the 2008 season. Among the numerous challenges Sullivan and the coach he hires face will include resetting the organizational culture; deciding the futures of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wideout Tyreek Hill, among others, with the team; getting the team’s bloated salary cap in shape; and reloading a roster that had become old, expensive and underachieving under McDaniel and former GM Chris Grier.
The Dolphins, who finished 7-10 this season, will pick 11th overall in April’s draft and also own two additional third-round choices courtesy of trades that were made last year.