The Miami Dolphins announced on Monday that the team has requested seven candidates to interview for their general manager opening, including interim general manager Champ Kelly, after Chris Grier, who
served as general manager from 2016 to 2025, “mutually agreed to part ways” on Halloween.
Beyond Kelly, here are the Dolphins’ candidates:
- Tariq Ahmad, 49ers vice president of player personnel
- Jon-Eric Sullivan, Packers vice president of player personnel
- RJ Gillen, 49ers assistant general manager
- Alec Halaby, Eagles assistant general manager
- John McKay, Rams assistant general manager
- Josh Williams, 49ers director of scouting and football operations
It sure seems like Miami head coach Mike McDaniel, who came to the Dolphins via Kyle Shanahan and that coaching tree, has a type. Three of the candidates are from San Francisco, while two others are from teams with head coaches that he previously spent time with (Matt LaFleur-Packers and Sean McVay-Rams). It looks like McDaniel’s former co-workers are sending their best as their friend looks to try to right the ship in Miami.
The only front office member who hadn’t previously worked with McDaniel or a close friend is the Eagles’ Alec Halaby, a Madison Memorial High School product who worked his way up from being a college intern in 2007 to moving up the ranks in Philadelphia.
The Packers’ Jon-Eric Sullivan has been a hot name in recent years. Last season alone, he interviewed for the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders openings. Based on conversations I’ve had with people in the league, Sullivan is also expected to get burn with whatever team Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley takes over, if Hafley gets that opportunity and has an open general manager position.
The Dolphins’ interest in Sullivan was previously reported on Monday by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
As of now, the only general manager openings around the league are the Dolphins’ gig and the Atlanta Falcons, who also fired head coach Raheem Morris on Sunday. The Falcons, unlike the Dolphins, have yet to release the names of interview candidates.
Meanwhile, six teams have head coaching vacancies: the Arizona Cardinals, Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants and Tennessee Titans. Hafley has yet to be tapped on the shoulder for a head coaching interview, but since the Packers are in the playoffs, teams aren’t allowed to interview Hafley until Tuesday, January 13th, per NFL rules.
