Miami Dolphins HC search could be Stephen Ross’ last chance
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins are lining up prospective head coaching candidates and are seeking permission to interview them. Stephen Ross needs to get it right.
When the Miami Dolphins concluded their press conference on Monday morning, the new man in charge of everything, Chris Grier said that he was heading upstairs with Ross to start finding a new head coach. By the end of the day, Miami had five potential candidates.
The Dolphins are off to a quicker start than most expected and in reality that quick start may not be anything more than compiling a list of names. They have yet to interview anyone. They are up against no time restraints but there are seven other teams looking for new head coaches.
For Stephen Ross this could be the defining moment of his NFL ownership career. The defining moment of what his Miami Dolphins legacy will be. He needs to get this one right.
Ross is 78 years old and while he appears to be in good health Father Time remains undefeated and at some point Ross is going to have to cede the ownership of the team to someone else. Assuming that the next head coach lasts three years, Ross will be into his 80’s. This one may not be his final chance but it is getting close.
Ross hasn’t done well with hiring coaches. Jim Harbaugh said no so he kept Tony Sparano another season. Jeff Fisher used him to get more money from the Rams so he settled on Joe Philbin. He got his number one guy in Adam Gase three years ago and now he is looking again.
Miami has requested permission to interview several coaches but honestly only one maybe two seem to be candidates that have a lot of possibilities. That one is Vic Fangio who has a great NFL reputation and success on the defensive side of the ball. An offensive candidate Eric Bienemey is making waves. The Kansas City OC has interest from multiple teams.
Kris Richard the passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Cowboys is also of interest as is Brian Flores, the DC of the Patriots.
Aside from Fangio however, the other names don’t sound as can’t miss coaches but then again, Gase was supposed to be a can’t miss talent as well.
Finding a head coach is not easy and may be harder than finding a starting quarterback. The turnover rate is high in the NFL and the failure level far exceeds that of those with measured and sustained success.
Ross is going to change the team and recognizes that his approach has been wrong since taking over the team. He has tried to supplement the roster. He has allowed his executives to buy aging veterans with bad contracts.
Chris Grier is going to lead the search but Ross will be heavily involved. Ross is betting on Grier to be as good as his reputation and that is good because for the first time, Ross is allowing one person to run his team and take accountability for the decisions being made. Now it all depends on whether or not the two of them can find the right fit to make over the team.