Miami Dolphins’ new era begins as billionaire owner appoints Jon-Eric Sullivan as new general manager
The Miami Dolphins are hiring Jon-Eric Sullivan as the team’s new general manager as billionaire owner Stephen Ross begins a complete overhaul of the franchise.
The Fins finished 7-10 in the 2025 season and head coach Mike McDaniel was fired on Thursday, with the owner claiming the whole organization ‘is in need of comprehensive change’.
And that change is already well underway, with ESPN’s senior NFL insider Adam Schefter reporting that Green Bay Packers VP of Player Personnel Sullivan is to be Miami’s new GM.
Sullivan is the son of Jerry Sullivan, the longtime NFL and college football head coach who retired in 2021 after 40+ years of coaching at the top level.
Jon-Eric’s father was also the Dolphins’ wide receivers coach in 2004, and 22 years later he is now in the building to lead the same franchise as GM.
Sullivan, 50, has been with the Packers for his entire career to date, first joining as a Training Camp Intern in 2003.
Jon-Eric Sullivan has been appointed the new General Manager of the Miami Dolphins
Miami’s billionaire owner Stephen Ross has begun a complete overhaul of the franchise
He has since occupied multiple roles within the organization, starting as a regional scout before moving up to co-director and then VP of player personnel.
He had previously interviewed for multiple general manager jobs, with the Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets.
Sullivan was also a player himself before his executive career, playing wide receiver for South Carolina before missing out on the NFL in 2000.
Ian Rapoport reports that Sullivan ‘impressed Miami brass’ in his interview and is seen as a ‘respected mind’ in the NFL.
He will immediately get to work on hiring a new head coach, after McDaniel was fired on Thursday after four years in charge.
2025 marked the second straight year Miami has failed to reach the playoffs, having previously made the postseason in each of McDaniel’s first two campaigns.
Mike McDaniel was fired as head coach of the team on Thursday, after four years in charge
Following their meeting this week, owner Ross made the tough decision to move on from McDaniel – with ex-Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh already a top candidate to replace him.
‘After careful evaluation and extensive discussions since the season ended, I have made the decision that our organization is in need of comprehensive change,’ he said in a statement on Thursday.
‘I informed Mike McDaniel this morning that he has been relieved of his duties as head coach. I love Mike and want to thank him for his hard work, commitment, and the energy he brought to our organization.
‘Mike is an incredibly creative football mind whose passion for the game and his players was evident every day. I wish him and his family the best moving forward.’
