MIAMI GARDENS — Roles were reduced. The biggest role of all experienced a changing of the guard. There was a shuffling of executives along with job titles that sound important even if you don’t have the foggiest idea of what they mean. Put it all together and your brain is telling you Aug. 4 will go down as a milestone day in the history of the Miami Dolphins
, even though it’s shouting one simple question:What does any of this mean toward what we see on Sundays?
Or, to be even more Miami-specific: Does this mean we’re finally going to see a stinkin’ playoff win?
The Dolphins hit South Florida with a double dose of news Tuesday. Basically, Daniel Sillman is the new man in charge of the Dolphins even as his father-in-law, Stephen Ross, maintains
ownership of the organization, and Tom Garfinkel is vacating roles as Dolphins CEO and president, even though he remains vice chairman of the Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium.
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As players endured Day 6 of training camp just a few hundred yards away, Ross, Sillman and Garfinkel each addressed 500 staffers inside the stadium. All three offered glimpses of an emotional side of themselves that many staffers had probably never seen before.
Sillman is only 37 but seasoned enough to sense it wouldn’t hurt to put everyone at ease by saying he’s not planning sweeping changes so he could stick out his chest. Those who know him say that’s not his style. He’ll ask questions. He’ll want to be informed. He’ll keep Ross, 86, informed. When the TV cameras cut to shots of the owner’s box, don’t be surprised to see Sillman more than Ross.
Eventually, every team owner has to make difficult decisions that affect other people’s lives. That’s not going to happen for Sillman — not for a long time, anyway. After the Dolphins parted with coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier, they undertook a dual search. Sillman played a key role in the search that netted Jon-Eric Sullivan as general manager and Jeff Hafley as coach, both from within the Green Bay Packers’ organization.
That was the kind of clean sweep many wanted for years. Nobody can judge Sullivan’s eye for talent or Hafley’s ability to coach these Dolphins after a handful of training camp practices. But at least we know Hafley is entrusted by Sullivan and both are entrusted by Sillman. It has the makings of a solid, clean and healthy chain of command, the very thing the Dolphins have always talked about but often found elusive.
Tom Garfinkel's decision to step back triggers moves
The changes were put in motion when Garfinkel decided he wanted to wear one hat instead of three. And, for the record, this was his decision, one he’d been considering. Ross’ tone in thanking Garfinkel reaffirmed it. August 2026 seemed like the right time to step back now that Hard Rock Stadium has successfully navigated a murderer’s row of demands starting with the College Football Playoff title game and more recently including seven matches in the FIFA World Cup.
Garfinkel had a long to-do list of things to build and sports properties to acquire. They’ve all been checked off. Besides, there’s no space left to build. His work is largely done here, although he remains managing partner of his pet project, the Miami Grand Prix.
Garfinkel had ample reasons to thank the staff for pulling off so many events in succession, just as Ross, in his turn with the microphone, had reasons to thank Garfinkel for his accomplishments, especially a revenue increase of more than 400 percent. Add in the construction of the Baptist Health Training Complex and a half-billion-dollar renovation of the stadium, including the canopy. And 13 years ago, when Garfinkel came aboard, could anyone have even dreamt a Formula 1 race would encircle the complex?
Ross named Sillman CEO of the newly created Ross Sports & Entertainment, the umbrella organization over the Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, the Grand Prix, Miami Open tennis tournament and Precision Drive Club. Not that Sillman didn’t have a wide-ranging portfolio already, including serving as a producer of films on the careers of soccer players Neymar and Ada Hegerberg.
Sillman and Garfinkel were Ross’ right-hand men when they pulled off a coup in 2017 by arranging for Barcelona to play Real Madrid at Hard Rock Stadium. Sillman was bullish when discussing the event with The Palm Beach Post in a rare interview with a South Florida outlet, calling it “the biggest match in the world.” It wasn’t just hype; the match marked only the second time the fiercest rivalry in club soccer was staged outside Spain.
The match was part of the International Champions Cup, a fancy name for a preseason tournament. Lionel Messi played for Barcelona, and even though Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t make the trip from Madrid, a sellout crowd turned out, with some paying $2,000.
“We’ve built essentially a Super Bowl in South Florida,” Sillman said.
A sentiment that takes on a whole new meaning today.
Hal Habib covers the Miami Dolphins for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at HHabib@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Daniel Sillman now running Miami Dolphins. What does it mean for fans
