Before we get to the actual game, if you weren’t around yesterday, didn’t listen to any football related matters, the Miami Dolphins released some bombshell news, news that your’s truly is extremely hopeful about. The Miami Dolphins have announced that Miami Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross has hired ESPN Analyst and Commentator Troy Aikman as a consultant to help in the process of finding the next Miami Dolphins GM. Some will be miffed that it’s Troy Aikman, and he hasn’t played in 25 years, not coincidentally the last time the Miami Dolphins won a playoff game. Relax! He’s going to be a consultant, not the final say, just there to help and give a little guidance. He’s still a huge part of the game, he sees every team play and is still quite connected to the game. The bigger point though is that even if you don’t think Aikman should be the guy to consult, the Dolphins are doing what needs to be done. They are trying to find the right GM to build this team the right way, and for goodness sake, that’s exactly what I’ve been asking for. No half measures, no restrictions, no ultimatums, hire the right NFL Exec and give him full autonomy to hire the Head Coach he chooses and have full control over player personnel. Accountability is paramount here. You need to have one person making these decisions, and while the GM Head Coach relationship needs to be a cohesive one, while the Head Coach could pounding the table for a particular player, the GM has to have the final say and do his due diligence as he will ultimately be the one responsible for that decision. There can be no gray area, the GM will run the show and hopefully choose the right Head Coach to make this team competitive year in and year out.
After that stunning news, I feel like anything else I say pales in comparison, but there is one more game to be played, and the guy wearing #14 for the Miami Dolphins has to be pumped up to face the New England Patriots to spoil their bid to become the AFC #1 seed. I feel like sometimes the teams that are playing for seeding don’t necessarily seem super motivated. I don’t think that will be the case late Sunday afternoon because Mike Vrabel is a disciplined Head Coach from the Bill Belichick tree, and I believe he understands full well he’d rather play all the games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough rather than have to travel to Denver to play the Broncos in their house. I guess we’ll see what happens in that regard, but the Dolphins at 7-9 have been eliminated from playoff contention, and at the moment will likely be picking just outside the Top 10 in the 2026 NFL Draft. One important information we don’t have is whether or not Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel will be returning. My assumption is that he will not be, as the GM search would indicate they’re attempting to do this the right way, but until I actually read it, I’ll have that small bit of doubt.
Change. The GM search is a beacon of change, and after 25 years of not winning a playoff game, I’d say change is in order. I believe Mike McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa are joined at the hip, and I think since QB Tua Tagovailoa is holding a clip board, Mike McDaniel will soon be looking for another job in the NFL after this week when Black Monday rolls around. This is historically the day when NFL Head Coaches are let go from their respective teams after not having a good season or seasons. I do expect Mike McDaniel to be one of those coaches, but again, it hasn’t happened and there are no guarantees. You guys know how I feel about QB Tua Tagovailoa, any QB who puts himself above the team is OUT for me. He 100% values his health above the success of the team and his play on the field reflects is over and over. I never want to see him taking snaps for this team ever again, and I’m pretty sure that’s a done deal. As to who the next Miami Dolphins Head Coach will be, a lot of dominos have to fall first before that picture gets any clearer. Will Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin be let go after 19 years if they miss the playoffs? Will Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh be let go after 18 years if they miss the playoffs? I think it’s strange to even think those things, but it’s 2026 now, and if you haven’t noticed, things are just different.
Since the whole GM search and then Head Coach search thing is unclear, let’s get back to Sunday’s game. The Patriots and Broncos are both 13-3. The Broncos host the LA Chargers while the Patriots host our Miami Dolphins. The Broncos come off a defensive struggle 20-13 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs while the Patriots are coming off a blowout 42-10 win over the NY Jets. Both teams want nothing more than to play every playoff game in their house. Our Dolphins have played well in Foxborough, We beat the Patriots 15-10 last season, 24-17 in 2023, but lost a close 23-21 game in 2022. We are very different teams though. The Patriots are 13-3 playing for the #1 seed, and we have a rookie QB who has made two NFL starts after just 2 weeks of practice with the starters after being the emergency QB most of the season. QB Drake Maye has put up some very nice numbers this year although the Patriots schedule was an easy one. Despite that though, Vrabel has done what he was hired to do, win the games on the schedule, and they have won 13 of 16. The Dolphins played a very similar schedule and we stand at 7-9, so be careful throwing stones from glass houses.
I like what our rookie QB Quinn Ewers has shown us so far. The game didn’t look like too much for him, and the team has responded well with him at the helm. He looks like he has some moxie, and compared to the the wet noodle Tua, that’s a lot. There was definitely an energy last week as the Dolphins were playing a team who need the win to control their playoff destiny, and while the Bucs have been up and down this season, I think they’re the better team, but not this past Sunday. WE ran the ball well enough between Achane and Wright and just asked QB Quinn Ewers to give us just enough and he delivered on that. We will probably need a similar game plan to upset the Patriots Sunday. Waddle was in and out of the game with nagging injuries and that leaves WR’s Malik Washington, WR Theo Wease, WR Cedrick Wilson Jr., along with TE’s Julian Hill, Greg Dulcich and sometimes used Darren Waller. As far as I’m concerned, I’d skip the Darren Waller experiment next season. He’s exciting when he’s in there and we use him, but I’m tired of him disappearing for long stretches where he’s not in the game. Find someone who can play without restrictions! I hope we don’t burn out Achane in this one, I wouldn’t be shocked if we put a lot on his plate Sunday. He’s the one guy in this offense that always make things happen. The Patriots leaned hard on the run game with rookie TreVVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson last week and I’d expect more of that this week. We’ll see how stout or young D-line can be, but we know we’ll get quality linebacking from Brooks and Dodson.
While S Minkah Fitzpatrick was held out of practice along with RB De’Von Achane, LB Jordyn Brooks and TE Darren Waller, that doesn’t mean they aren’t playing. I’d say 3 of the 4 are definitely playing with the exception of Minkah. How much they play is a different story. This game doesn’t mean a whole lot to the Dolphins, but for Head Coach Mike McDaniel who is likely auditioning for a job elsewhere, and for the players too, it means a lot. I’d expect a good effort, and I hope that first and foremost we come out healthy from this game, and maybe this team gives us a surprise upset win, and believe you me, this would be a huge upset. Let’s hope we have a good game, and #14 Quinn Ewers shows us a little something special Sunday afternoon.
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
I’m going to give another prediction… IF we sign Chad Alexander as our GM (who saw both Steve McNair and Lamar Jackson in Baltimore) and Jim Harbaugh as our HC… Byrum Brown is the QB we’ll want in the ’27 Draft, barring a catastrophic ’26 collegiate season at Auburn.
Also… Todd Monken will be our OC by ’27, if not in ’26. Again… IF we hire Chad Alexander and Jim Harbaugh.
WE SHALL SEE!!!
I’m so fucking high on Byrum Brown right now. He’s already on my ‘man-crush’ list for ’27. 6’3″, 231 pounds. Possesses a cannon arm and can run like nobody’s business…
my Man crush for 2027 is KJ Duff. I’m stunned he didn’t enter the portal
Mike E
Looking forward to your next article!
Me too! Can’t wait to write it!
WTF… LOL
Tim,
in regards to Harbaugh/Jackson:
initial click bait was they weren’t cool and Jackson wanted him gone.
As M13 pointed out, Adam Schefter came out and said the issue was with Monken, and when Biscotti takes to Harbaugh, he was unwilling to part ways with Monken, contributing to his departure.
I will give Ross kudos…finally! Lol…
The process is playing out how it should and suggested, but never expected…lol
If the new GM wants or gets Harbaugh so be it….
We have blown it up…queue Chernobyl…we get to begin anew.
Exciting times imo
Agreed! You never should have disagreed with me, in hindsight, right?!!
Lol…huh?
Krishna
says:
January 6, 2026 at 7:31 pm
Lol…I completely disagree…take a breath
I don’t/can’t remember half the shit I say, let alone the smack talk…
That was your reply to me when I stated (before McD was fired)…
mf13ss
says:
January 6, 2026 at 7:23 pm
So here’s my current train of thought… we’ve got to move fast IF Harbaugh is the guy we want, right? IF we hire Chad Alexander… say tomorrow or by the latest on Friday (maybe even the weekend, don’t fuck around!), that’s probably a signal that Alexander likes and wants Harbaugh as our HC. That would probably also signal that Harbaugh would want to work with Alexander in Miami… a mutually positive relationship.
Now if we don’t hire Alexander any time soon, all bets are off with Harbaugh.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. We shall see…
I’d already insinuated that Capri McD was going to be fired.
Lol….I said back in September 2025 and throughout this whole process that Grier and MM would give Ross the rope he needed to fire both.
And, many here BELIEVED MM would still be here for the 2026 season because Ross loved MM.
That’s why I said take a breath…let the process play itself out. I still believe MM would have been have been fired, but after they picked the GM which would have been the proper course of action. We will never know for sure at this point.
Once Harbaugh became available, the Dolphins opened up the possibility for him to become our HC along with a different GM (as they should have), one they had NOT previously considered.
Let’s see what happens, take a breath, and may the best GM be selected for this franchise. That’s what I want for this Dolphins’ organization.
This Ole Miss kicker is unbelievable
my Man crush for 2027 is KJ Duff. I’m stunned he didn’t enter the portal
———-
I’m surprised he didn’t also
Toney!!! TD, Miami!!!
And now Ole’ Miss goes back on top with a TD!
Carson Beck with the rushing TD!!!
Woohoo Canes!!
Dilly dilly
MIAMI WINS!!!
Playing for the national championship!!!
Canes back in! Feels good to have a good team to root for again. C’mon Harbaugh, make it two.
Congrats to Miami. They had me worried there with all the penalties and dropped Interceptions. I thought they were going to blow it until those 2 huge drives in the 4th.
Congrats Miami!!
Though, I do think Ole Miss should have got one more shot. I think it was DPI on that last play. Guy held him all the way through the end zone.
Carson Beck has changed my mind about him. He might be a decent day 3 QB. Though I think he has improved his draft stock.
Same with Chambliss. Though he is a smaller QB. Those 2 dropped INT’s by Miami weren’t bad throws by Chambliss, IMO.
Hard to believe Toney is a true freshman. He’s got a great all round game. He was doing some serious blocking last night outside of being a huge threat in the pass game.
Ole Miss WR De’Zhaun Stribling, 6’2, 200, improved his draft stock also. He’s currently ranked as a 7th rounder. He might be a decent day 3 pick. Though, we need a new #1 and he’s not that.
2027 looks to be not only a good QB class but also a good WR class.
I don’t think Curt Cignetti will ever leave Indiana. He has a clause in his contract where Indiana has to give him a pay raise putting him into the top 3 highest paid coaches in college if he takes Indiana to at least the college playoff semifinal. He will get that raise every time he does it.
He got his new contract paying him about 11.6m a year. Indiana is in the CFP semifinal, so they already have to give him a pay raise to at least 12.5m per season.
There is a clause where Indiana can refuse but, if they do, his buy out goes from 15m to zero dollars.
Rumor has it that Harbaugh is going to want to have input on who his GM will be. Something bassackwards but this could make the Dolphins the leading candidate to land Harbaugh. That is, unless Harbaugh likes the GM already in place on another team.
Another reason is with Weaver as the Dolphins DC, is Harbaugh’s defensive scheme already in place or something very similar.
Hiring the new GM and HC could happen at the exact same time.
I never know if this is AI BS or not anymore.
https://x.com/adamschefter/status/2009642827932979381?s=46
That’s what is being reported.
I hear it is true
My horse won! Lol
lol
Lol…yup
BBM,
I really don’t know much about JES. I just heard some things that made me feel he was the guy.
Actually, I’m not sure I like him. He started as a WR, for Pete’s sake! Lol
So that mean the Dolphins are not interested in John Harbaugh as many of us had hoped to be our next HC?
Is Anthony Weavar their in play as our next HC? I would not mind that at all.
I think they’re interested in finding the best GM first to rebuild this organization from the ground up without taking shortcuts…jmo.
Ross, seems to have learned some valuable lessons.
Dolphins Hire Jon-Eric Sullivan As General Manager
Posted by Mike Oliva | Jan 9, 2026 | Dolphins News |
Dolphins Hire Jon-Eric Sullivan As General Manager
The Miami Dolphins have hired Jon-Eric Sullivan as their next general manager.
Sullivan comes over from the Green Bay Packers, where he was their Vice President of Player Personnel.
A lifer with the Green Bay Packers, Sullivan started there as an intern in 2003 and worked his way up the corporate ladder.
He has been the Packers’ Vice President of Player Personnel since 2022. Before that, he was the co-director of player personnel, and before that, the director of college scouting. He has worked every possible role you want one to work before they become a general manager.
He interviewed for every general manager opening last offseason. He didn’t land the job, but he is more than ready to be an NFL GM.
Sullivan’s tenure with the Packers for over 20 years will put a lot of current Packer assistants or former Packers coaches in play to be the Dolphins’ next head coach.
Jeff Hafley, the current Packers defensive coordinator, is a hot name this hiring cycle who will be linked to Miami. Before joining the Packers, he was the head coach at Boston College, where he had a lot of success.
Mike McCarthy will be another name that will be tied to Miami now as well. And if the Packers lose Saturday evening, keep an eye on Matt LaFleur if he is let go by Green Bay.
He is walking into a situation in Miami that will require significant heavy lifting to get the organization back on track.
He is going to have to make a call on Tua’s contract, and what is the best way to eat the dead money to move forward? Pre-June 1st cut and eat it all at once? Post June 1st, cut and split up the cap hits? Or explore the trade market if there is one?
What to do with Tyreek Hill and his contract?
Will he give a big payday to superstar running back De’Von Achane?
Does Minkah Fitzpatrick get released to open up much-needed cap space?
Should Jordyn Brooks get an extension?
And then, how does he handle those five picks Miami has in the Top 100?
Markey,
I don’t know anything, but from what I’ve heard JES would be a very good fit with Harbaugh. The whole who is hired first thing is easily managed. You just put the word out in the right order regardless of who was actually hired first.
I am open minded on this one….
That is what I heard. Also, hearing from multiple outlets that the Dolphins chose the best of all the candidates. I really know nothing about him. Hope it is true.
By Austin Nivison & Bryan DeArdo
9 mins ago•1 min read
……….
“Sullivan was a scout with the Packers when they won Super Bowl XLV to cap off the 2010 season and has worked closely with Packers GM Brian Gutekunst to build a perennial playoff contender in Green Bay. Sullivan is the son of long-time college and NFL coach Jerry Sullivan, who spent 40 years on various sidelines and worked for the Dolphins as a wide receivers coach in 2004.
In Miami, Sullivan replaces Chris Grier, who was fired by the Dolphins in October after serving as the team’s GM since 2016, when he was promoted from director of college scouting. During Grier’s tenure as general manager, the Dolphins experienced seven losing seasons and reached the postseason only three times. Miami has not won a playoff game since 2000.”
……….
I wonder if hiring this GM that signing QB Malik Willis from Green Bay becomes a big possibility.
I think MikeE is like, “Dammit, they hired somebody. Now I have to rewrite my article.” lol
Lol!!!
Jon Eric Sullivan’s father, Jerry Sullivan was the Dolphins WR Coach in 2004.
Yup
I wish I knew how to post Rich Eisen’s comment about the changes in Miami this morning….60 second clip. Referred to Aikmann’s guidance on how this is supposed to be done.
NEW BLOG UP!!!
Aikman knew that it all starts and ends up front. He knew the value of running the ball. Aikman knows football. I don’t understand why people think he’s stupid. He’s not. He’s not flashy. He’s not a me-me guy. I’d take his input. It doesn’t mean I’m doing what he says but you bet your ass I’m listening to whatever he says.
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2026/01/09/dolphins-to-hire-packers-executive-jon-eric-sullivan-as-general-manager/88100322007/
No