At 1-6, the Miami Dolphins are currently the 2nd-worst team in the NFL, behind only the 0-7 New York Jets.
As a result, many fans and media members alike have scrutinized the team from top to bottom. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, head coach Mike McDaniel, and general manager Chris Grier all deserve their fair share of blame for how the season has played out so far.
However, one anonymous NFL GM says that Grier, not McDaniel, is actually the most at fault for Miami’s putrid performances this season.
As per Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the GM in question says that “Mike’s not a bad coach, it’s just an aimless program.”
Certainly, Dolphins fans have long held contempt for Grier, who has repeatedly failed to build a winning team in the NFL, despite getting essentially three opportunities to do so. Grier took over as general manager in 2016, and has since hired three head coaches, failing to win a playoff game with any of them.
Dolphins Record under Chris Grier as General Manager
- 2016: 10-6, lost WC (Gase)
- 2017: 6-10, failed to make playoffs (Gase)
- 2018: 7-9, failed to make playoffs (Gase)
- 2019: 5-11, failed to make playoffs (Flores)
- 2020: 10-6, failed to make playoffs (Flores)
- 2021: 9-8, failed to make playoffs (Flores)
- 2022: 9-8, lost WC (McDaniel)
- 2023: 11-6, lost WC (McDaniel)
- 2024: 8-9, failed to make playoffs (McDaniel)
- 2025: 1-7, currently 2nd-worst record in the NFL (McDaniel)
However, what’s probably most concerning for the Dolphins isn’t just their win-loss record, but the amount of money they’re spending to still be swimming among the NFL’s bottom-feeders. Of the 10 worst teams in the NFL, only the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints currently have less cap space going into the 2026 NFL season.
Expected Cap Space in 2026 Among NFL’s 10 Worst Teams (via OverTheCap)
- New York Jets (0-7): $74 million
- Miami Dolphins (1-6) : -$11 million
- Tennessee Titans (1-6): $112 million
- New Orleans Saints (1-6): -$14 million
- Baltimore Ravens (1-5): $41 million
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-5): $103 million
- Cleveland Browns (2-5): -$13 million
- Arizona Cardinals (2-5): $34 million
- New York Giants (2-5): $16 million
- Houston Texans (2-4): $17 million
In other words, not only are the Dolphins bad, but there isn’t an immediate path to turning things around. Even the Browns, who have less cap space than the Dolphins going into 2026, at least hold significant draft capital (and seemed to have drafted well in last year’s draft). Cleveland currently holds two 1st-round selections in next year’s draft, courtesy of their trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2025 NFL draft.
So, whoever this anonymous NFL GM is, is spot on.
The Dolphins have one of the most poorly constructed rosters in the league, and the blame for Miami’s performances this season go way beyond the head coach and quarterback. Now, Mike McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa have certainly failed to deliver this season, but ultimately, they aren’t the ones pulling the strings—Grier is. McDaniel especially, has his fair share of support around the league.
At the end of the day, it’s Grier who hired McDaniel, drafted Tua, failed to build a competent offensive line around his quarterback, let key players walk in free agency, signed aging veterans on expensive deals, and whiffed on countless draft picks.
In fact, when you lay it all out like that, to say that the Dolphins are poorly constructed is perhaps the understatement of the century. Luckily for Grier, by next century, he’ll probably still be with the team.
Does Chris Grier deserve the lion’s share of the blame for Miami’s failures this season? Does someone else? Let us know down below!
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