With an 8-9 record and a one-spot miss from the playoffs, the Miami Dolphins’ season has ended in disappointment. The Dolphins can now concentrate on building a competitive roster for the upcoming campaign. Owner Steve Ross has declared that both General Manager Chris Grier and Head Coach Mike McDaniel will return for the 2025 season, despite requests from some supporters to fire them.

McDaniel and Grier’s detractors blame the team’s poor performance for their need for reforms. Since taking over as general manager in 2016, Grier, who has been with the Dolphins for more than 20 years, has come under heavy fire for neglecting the team’s offensive line. The majority of his attempts to correct the issue through free-agent signings and draft selections have failed. When his efforts failed, Grier resorted to temporary solutions that exacerbated the issue. Grier had earlier said that fans were more worried about the offensive line problem than he was, but at the end-of-season news conference, he acknowledged the problem and pledged to fix it.

However, McDaniel has come under fire for sometimes making his play-calling too complicated. Penalties or successful play-countering by the opposition defense have resulted from this. McDaniel has also come under fire for not calling the correct plays at crucial times, such not running the ball on third-and-one or giving up on a successful rushing attack. The head coach has acknowledged that he needs to get better at everything, from calling plays more accurately to controlling player discipline and game difficulties.

Even though Grier and McDaniel have both admitted their mistakes and stated a desire to do better, many Dolphins supporters—including myself—are holding off on praising them until we see noticeable progress.

Now that the season is officially over, the Dolphins are turning their attention to the NFL Draft and free agency. Assessing the squad and finding underperforming players who no longer align with the team’s goals should be the first focus. The Dolphins may concentrate on improving their offensive line, safety, defensive line depth, cornerback, and wide receiver spots when the roster is reduced. These are the main gaps that must be filled in order to create a more competitive team going forward, while other positions can also need attention.

The Dolphins’ summer decisions, whether they involve roster modifications, strategic additions, or coaching upgrades, will have a significant impact on how well the team performs the following season. The Dolphins can improve and become a more competitive club by making improvements to critical areas like play-calling, defensive depth, and the offensive line. Although there is still much opportunity for improvement given the season’s poor conclusion, these changes, if implemented well, might benefit the Dolphins and enable them to advance. Dolphins supporters are hoping that the coaching staff and front office will follow through on their promises and provide the franchise a brighter future.