Pressure Point: Miami Dolphins under Steve Ross never fail to disappoint

The Miami Dolphins’ latest season, reeking of failure, had just been jettisoned onto the franchise’s towering trash heap of hopes gone awry.

Team owner Steve Ross, wasting no time in celebrating dubious achievements, declared late Sunday that, of course, coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier would return in 2025 to continue their impressive stewardship.

Because, well, in the owner’s words, “Their positive working relationship is an asset to the Dolphins, and I believe in the value of stability.”

This in the wake of a humiliating 32-20 thumping in the season finale by a Jets team that came in 4-12 with nothing to play for but pride for an interim coach and a future hall-of-fame quarterback who might be retiring.

Dolphins franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa wasn’t even playing for the sixth time this season because, well, you know, concussions, bum hip … it’s always something like that.

Dolphins owner pledges allegiance to coach, GM

Tua has now missed 20 games due to injury in five NFL seasons. But he was deemed worthy of a $212 million contract including $167 million guaranteed by masterminds Grier and McDaniel with Ross’ blessing.

Ross went on to say in his statement, “We will take a hard look at where we have fallen short and make the necessary changes to deliver our ultimate goal of building and sustaining a winning team that competes for championships.”

It’s been six years since Ross ordered a rebuild of the roster with that objective. What do they have to show for it?

Bupkis, really.

They did string together four seasons with a winning record before regressing to 8-9 in 2024. But still no playoff wins, now for 24 seasons.

How do you go 24 seasons without winning even one playoff game in a league rigged for parity?

The Dolphins always find a way — usually in embarrassing fashion.

Playoff wins since 2001:

143 — Heat
41 — Panthers
13 — Marlins
0 — Dolphins

The fans deserve better @MiamiDolphins pic.twitter.com/QMAPH15CsY

— HeatMuse (@Heat_Muse) January 6, 2025

Dolphins end season on low note

The result in Sunday’s season finale was rendered moot by the Denver Broncos clinching the final AFC wild card with a 38-0 rollover of the Kansas City Chiefs, who rested everyone. But imagine if the Chiefs were still playing for the top seed and put the mediocre Broncos in their place like they easily could have if they actually cared to show up.

The Dolphins had everything to play for at the start of the day, yet looked like a team tanking for better draft position — which they actually achieved, moving up to No. 13 after the defeat.

By opponent combined winning percentage, the Dolphins ended up playing the easiest schedule in the NFL in 2024. Their opponents have a .419 winning percentage. Second-easiest was Washington at .436.

— Alain Poupart (@PoupartNFL) January 6, 2025

But with everything on the line in the first quarter and a first down at the Jets’ 3 with a chance to take a 10-0 lead, three plays netted minus-5 yards. Running back De’Von Achane got thrown for a 5-yard loss on a run off guard on first down.

It was emblematic of a Dolphins rushing attack that struggled all season in short-yardage situations. Yet, Grier gloated early in the season about media criticism of the offensive line, which was thin at guard after stud Robert Hunt left in free agency.

“It’s just one of those that Mike and I always kind of chuckle,” Grier said.

As it turned out, it was no laughing matter. This line couldn’t move a Volkswagen off a train track before getting flattened by a slow freight train.

Tyreek Hill hints at wanting to leave Dolphins

Opponent after opponent won the battle in the trenches. Too many runs were thrown for losses, and pass protection was inadequate to get receivers open down field.

As the season progressed, McDaniel’s once high-scoring offense was mostly reduced to tossing screens to backs and receivers.

Did the Dolphins hire a play caller in 2022 or did they hire a head coach?

If Mike McDaniel himself doesn’t see his own value as a head coach absent play calling duties, then he should just be dismissed.

— Chris Kouffman (@ckparrot) January 6, 2025

The season ended with five-time All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill apparently removing himself from the game in the fourth quarter and afterward indicating he may be done with the Dolphins, saying, “I’m out, bro.”

Isn’t that the fitting bookend to a season that began with Hill in handcuffs before the opener after a traffic incident near Hard Rock Stadium?

McDaniel is 28-23 in three seasons with two playoff appearances (both losses). His resume is loaded with wins over lesser teams, but 3-13 against teams over .500.

But frustration for a beleaguered Dolphins fan base goes back decades. It’s been 40 years since the last Super Bowl appearance in Dan Marino’s second season.

About all they have to cling to since then is an entertaining reel of Marino highlights. More entertaining than watching the present product.

Not sure how Dolphins fans have the stomach for this every year.

But they keep coming back for more. God bless them. Ain’t easy. pic.twitter.com/kWqLmqKH9A

— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) January 6, 2025

Tagovailoa’s lack of durability holds Dolphins back

Ross’ “ultimate goal of building and sustaining a winning team that competes for championships” remains elusive.

They botched the rebuild and are now invested heavily in a franchise quarterback who can’t stay on the field.

The Dolphins haven’t closed the gap on the Buffalo Bills, in large part because they don’t have a quarterback like Josh Allen. There isn’t anyone quite like Allen, who has played through injuries to put together a streak of 105 consecutive starts and does things that Tagovailoa can’t.

Now Tua’s lack of durability has taken a new twist with an injury to the same surgically repaired hip that ended his collegiate career.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that Tagovailoa has a “unique hip injury which is affecting the surrounding muscles and therefore his strength and mobility, along with leaving him vulnerable to further injury.”

Missing the playoffs removed that as an immediate concern. But Tagovailoa’s durability issues are not going away.

The Dolphins go into the offseason with a long list of issues to address with the roster and little room under the salary cap.

Dolphins have much to address in offseason

Grier did make a good signing last offseason in tight end Jonnu Smith, an apparent winning first-round pick in pass rusher Chop Robinson and a quality in-season pickup of linebacker Tyrel Dodson.

But he’s missed way too often in six years of calling the shots for the franchise. Exhibit A: Still no playoff wins and a sizable gulf to teams that actually sustain winning and compete for championships.

But, hey, they’ll forge ahead with Grier and McDaniel who still have the full confidence of the owner.

Give the Grier/McDaniel regime credit, they’ve maintained the Dolphins’ stable course of mediocrity. It’s the one thing that can be counted on with this franchise.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.