Chris Grier’s Struggles Amid Low Rankings in GM Popularity: A Deep Dive into His Tenure with the Miami Dolphins

In the world of professional sports, the general manager (GM) plays a pivotal role in shaping a team’s destiny. For the Miami Dolphins, that role has been largely held by Chris Grier since 2016. While Grier’s tenure has seen a variety of highs and lows, recent rankings have consistently placed him among the lower echelons of NFL GMs in terms of popularity and public perception. In this deep dive, we will explore Grier’s journey with the Dolphins, the struggles he has faced, and how his actions as a GM have contributed to his reputation, both in the NFL community and among fans.

A Brief Introduction to Chris Grier’s Career

Chris Grier’s relationship with the Miami Dolphins is more than just that of a GM and a team. He has spent the majority of his professional career with the Dolphins, having been with the organization since 2007. Prior to assuming the role of GM, Grier served in a variety of scouting and personnel positions, which gave him a deep understanding of the team’s needs and the intricacies of roster-building.

Grier’s appointment as the Dolphins’ GM in 2016 was part of an effort by owner Stephen Ross to restore the franchise to relevance. Grier had been a part of the organization for several years, and with his familiarity with the team, many hoped he would bring the necessary vision and stability to a franchise that had seen little success in the 21st century.

However, as his tenure has unfolded, Grier’s leadership has been met with mixed reactions. His ability to identify talent, make impactful trades, and construct a competitive roster has come under scrutiny, particularly as the Dolphins have struggled to make deep playoff runs and establish long-term success.

Initial Optimism and the Rebuild Phase

When Grier first took the reins as GM, the Dolphins were a team in need of a significant rebuild. The roster was aging, and there was a lack of dynamic talent on both sides of the ball. Grier’s first few seasons were marked by an attempt to clear out dead weight and rebuild through the draft and free agency.

Under Grier’s leadership, the Dolphins began to make moves to shed veteran players with hefty contracts and stockpile draft capital. The most notable example was the 2019 trade of star receiver Jarvis Landry, signaling the start of a rebuild. The Dolphins also made several key moves to free up cap space and prepare for the future, including the release of several long-time players such as Ndamukong Suh and Mike Pouncey.

While these decisions were necessary for a long-term vision, they were not immediately popular with fans. The Dolphins’ roster was in a state of flux, and their win-loss record reflected this. In 2019, the Dolphins finished with a 5-11 record, a sign of the growing pains the team was experiencing as part of a rebuild.

The year was also marked by a historic trade with the Houston Texans, where the Dolphins acquired a massive haul of draft picks in exchange for Laremy Tunsil, a move that would set up the franchise for future success, at least on paper. In retrospect, many of the moves Grier made during this period can be seen as laying the groundwork for future success.

However, the short-term pain of losing games and the lack of immediate success left fans frustrated and impatient. They wanted results, not just the promise of a brighter future.

The 2020 Draft and Tua Tagovailoa

One of the most significant moments in Chris Grier’s tenure as GM came in the 2020 NFL Draft. In a year where the Dolphins were in prime position to land a franchise quarterback, Grier’s decision-making would be under intense scrutiny. The team had the fifth overall pick, and most fans and analysts expected the Dolphins to select a quarterback, with Tua Tagovailoa from Alabama being the most highly regarded player at that position.

However, Grier’s decision-making during the draft didn’t follow the path many anticipated. After trading down from the third overall pick in a deal with the San Francisco 49ers, the Dolphins still selected Tua Tagovailoa at number five. The move was controversial at the time, as many fans questioned the decision to pass on Justin Herbert, who would go on to be an immediate star for the Los Angeles Chargers.

The 2020 draft also saw the Dolphins add key pieces to their roster, including offensive lineman Austin Jackson and defensive back Noah Igbinoghene. While the draft was seen as an overall success by many analysts, the decision to go with Tua and the subsequent struggles of the young quarterback to acclimate to the NFL quickly became a point of contention.

Tua’s early struggles and the growing perception that Herbert had the better rookie season cast a shadow over Grier’s decisions. Critics began to question whether Grier’s plan to build the team around Tua would ultimately be successful, and whether he had made the right choice by prioritizing Tua over Herbert, who had shown early promise in his first few seasons.

The Coaching Carousel and Instability

While Grier had started to establish a direction for the team, his tenure as GM also coincided with a period of instability at the head coach position. After the team hired Brian Flores in 2019, there were early signs that the Dolphins were on the right path. Flores, known for his defensive acumen, initially had success with the Dolphins, leading them to a surprising 10-6 record in 2020. This achievement was widely seen as a step forward in Grier’s rebuilding efforts.

However, despite the team’s strong finish in 2020, tensions between Grier and Flores became apparent. In January 2022, the Dolphins made the shocking decision to fire Flores after three seasons, even though he had improved the team’s performance. Reports indicated that there was friction between Grier and Flores over personnel decisions and team-building philosophies.

The firing of Flores led to questions about Grier’s ability to provide consistent leadership. Some viewed the decision as a setback in the rebuilding process, as it seemed to undermine the progress made under Flores. Moreover, the hiring of Mike McDaniel as head coach in 2022 created a new layer of uncertainty, as Grier’s track record with head coaches had become a point of concern.

In the following seasons, McDaniel and Grier would need to work together to find common ground and move the franchise forward. However, McDaniel’s early success in his first season (leading the Dolphins to the playoffs for the first time in several years) only made Grier’s role in the franchise’s long-term success even more important.

Roster Decisions and Criticism

One of the most significant aspects of Grier’s tenure as GM has been his handling of the roster. While the Dolphins have had some success in the draft, Grier has also made a number of questionable moves that have attracted criticism.

For example, Grier’s handling of the quarterback position has been a major point of contention. While Tua was a highly regarded prospect when drafted, his continued struggles to stay healthy and establish consistency have raised questions about whether Grier made the right choice in building the team around him. Some critics have pointed out that Grier failed to secure a reliable backup quarterback in the event of injury, which has left the team vulnerable.

Additionally, Grier’s approach to free agency and the trade market has been met with mixed results. While he has made some solid signings, such as acquiring star cornerback Byron Jones, there have been a number of underwhelming free-agent acquisitions that have failed to make an impact on the roster. The Dolphins’ offensive line, for instance, has been a longstanding weakness, and Grier’s inability to significantly improve it has been a source of frustration for fans and analysts alike.

Despite these shortcomings, Grier has managed to keep the Dolphins competitive, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. The addition of key players like linebacker Jerome Baker and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah has helped solidify the team’s defense, but the lack of a truly elite offense has continued to hinder the team’s overall success.

Public Perception and Popularity Struggles

As the 2020s have progressed, Chris Grier’s tenure with the Dolphins has been consistently ranked among the less impressive in terms of GM popularity. His decisions have led to mixed results, and despite some bright spots, the overall narrative surrounding his time with the Dolphins has often been one of underachievement.

Grier’s inability to consistently build a playoff-contending roster and his struggles in the high-stakes decisions—particularly at the quarterback position—have caused many to question his long-term viability as a GM. Even though the Dolphins made the playoffs in 2022, there is a growing sense of doubt about whether Grier can take the team to the next level, especially given the unpredictability of the quarterback position and the lack of a consistent winning culture.

In the court of public opinion, GM popularity rankings have frequently placed Grier among the bottom half of NFL general managers. The criticisms, from failed draft picks to questionable trades, have built a case that Grier has yet to earn the trust of many fans and analysts.

Chris Grier’s journey with the Miami Dolphins has been a tumultuous one, full of both promising moments and frustrating setbacks. From the rebuilding phase to the controversial quarterback decisions and coaching changes, Grier has faced numerous challenges that have affected his popularity as GM. While there have been successes, such as the 2020 draft and the acquisition of key defensive players, Grier’s tenure has been marred by missed opportunities and inconsistent performance.

The path forward for Grier and the Dolphins is uncertain. While the team is clearly talented in some areas, the overall question remains: Can Grier build a consistent winner in Miami? Only time will tell, but as of now, his struggles with popularity and the challenges faced during his tenure suggest that the road ahead may not be an easy one for Chris Grier and the Miami Dolphins.