So, the hammer finally dropped in South Florida. If you’ve been following the Miami Dolphins rumors and news over the last few weeks, you knew the vibes were off. But seeing it actually happen? It’s different. Mike McDaniel, the guy everyone thought was the offensive shaman of the future, is officially gone.
Stephen Ross didn't just tweak the engine; he ripped the whole thing out.
Honestly, the timeline of how this went down is wild. One minute, there are reports that McDaniel might survive because the offense showed "flashes." The next minute, veteran tight end Darren Waller is telling anyone who will listen that Ross basically interrupted an exit interview to fire the head coach right then and there. Talk about a cold move. But that’s where the Dolphins are right now—a franchise in a total freefall after missing the playoffs in back-to-back years.
The Jon-Eric Sullivan Era Starts Now
Before we even get to the coaching search, we have to talk about the new boss. Jon-Eric Sullivan is the guy.
The Dolphins didn't waste time replacing Chris Grier, who stepped down back in October. They went to Green Bay and plucked Sullivan, their VP of player personnel. It’s a "Packers Way" hire. If you’re a Dolphins fan, you’re probably hoping some of that stable, winning culture rubs off on a locker room that looked completely broken by December.
Sullivan has a mess on his hands. Like, a real mess.
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He’s inherited a roster that is top-heavy, expensive, and—to be blunt—kinda soft. The defense was stripped of talent last year, and the offense, which used to be a track meet, turned into a slow jog by the end of the 2025 season. Sullivan’s first job? Finding a coach. His second? Deciding what to do with the $212 million quarterback who just got benched for a rookie.
The Tua Tagovailoa Problem Nobody Wants to Touch
Let’s get into the awkward stuff. Miami Dolphins rumors and news are currently dominated by one name: Tua Tagovailoa.
His contract is a nightmare. There’s no other way to put it. He’s carrying a cap hit of roughly $56.4 million in 2026. If the Dolphins cut him right now? They’d take a dead cap hit of nearly $100 million. That is franchise-crippling money.
You’ve probably seen the rumors linking him to the Jets. Just stop.
First off, Miami isn't trading him within the division to let him haunt them. Second, his play over the last two years has been—well, it’s been rough. He looks skittish. He’s not moving in the pocket. It’s like the confidence McDaniel built up in him just evaporated.
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The most realistic path? A "forced marriage" for one more year.
The Dolphins might have to keep him simply because they can’t afford to let him go. The word around the facility is that there will be a "legitimate" quarterback competition. Quinn Ewers, the rookie who took over late in the season, showed enough to stay in the mix. He threw for 622 yards and 3 touchdowns in his short stint. He looked like he actually wanted to be there, which is more than you could say for most of the starters in December.
Sullivan and the new coach might just bring in a cheap vet—think Mac Jones or Spencer Rattler—and let the best man win. It’s not flashy. It’s not the "Super Bowl or bust" hype of 2024. But it’s the reality of a rebuild.
Who is Actually Running for the Head Coach Job?
The coaching search is moving fast. Usually, these things take weeks, but Sullivan seems to have a "type."
He’s already looking at guys he knows. Jeff Hafley, the Packers' defensive coordinator, is a name that keeps popping up. People are worried it’ll be "Joe Philbin 2.0," but Hafley has a much higher ceiling.
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Then you’ve got the heavy hitters:
- Jesse Minter: The Chargers' DC. He’s the hot name because of what he did with that defense.
- Kevin Stefanski: He’s already interviewed. He’s got the experience, and he knows how to handle a complicated QB situation.
- Anthony Weaver: The current Dolphins DC is still in the building, but with John Harbaugh taking the Giants job, Weaver’s "protege" status might not be enough to save him here.
The dark horse? Matt LaFleur. There are whispers that if things get weird in Green Bay, he could be an option, though that feels like a long shot.
The Dolphins are sitting at the No. 11 pick in the draft. That’s a prime spot. Do they take another QB? Or do they finally, for the love of everything, draft some offensive linemen who can actually block?
Tyreek Hill and the Great Roster Purge
We need to talk about the "Cheetah." Tyreek Hill is owed $36 million in 2026.
Zero dollars of that are guaranteed.
Read that again. The most electric player in Dolphins history could be a cap casualty in March. He’s coming off a major injury from Week 4, and he’s dropped hints that he might want out anyway. If Sullivan is serious about a total reset, cutting Hill saves a massive chunk of change.
Jaylen Waddle is the only "lock" in that room. He’s entering the first year of his extension and he’s the clear WR1 of the future. Everyone else? Bradley Chubb, Tyreek, even some of the stalwarts on the O-line? They’re all on the chopping block.
What You Should Expect Next
If you're looking for a silver lining, it's that the Dolphins finally stopped pretending. For three years, they acted like they were one player away. They weren't.
Here is the reality for the next 60 days:
- The Coaching Hire: Expect a decision by the end of January. Sullivan wants his guy in place before the Senior Bowl.
- The Tua Decision: They’ll likely hold onto him through the draft. If they can’t find a trade partner who will eat that salary (unlikely), he’ll be in a camp battle with Ewers.
- The Roster Gutting: March is going to be painful. You’re going to see names you love getting released. It’s the price of the Chris Grier era’s "all-in" bets.
The goal for 2026 isn't a Super Bowl. It’s competence. It’s building a line that doesn't collapse in 2 seconds and a culture that doesn't quit when the weather gets cold in December.
Keep an eye on the No. 11 pick. If the Dolphins move up for a guy like Fernando Mendoza (if he doesn't go back to school) or stay put for a franchise tackle, that'll tell you everything you need to know about Sullivan’s vision. The "Greatest Show on Surf" is over. Now, we see if they can actually build a football team.