Dolphins agreed to terms with Jon-Eric Sullivan as general manager
Sullivan worked his way up through the scouting, personnel executive and football operations departments over two decades in Green Bay.
By Dianna Russini, Matt Schneidman and Jordy Fee-Platt
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The Miami Dolphins will hire longtime Green Bay Packers executive Jon-Eric Sullivan as their next general manager Friday, the team announced. Sullivan replaces Chris Grier, who was fired in October after 9 1/2 seasons as the Dolphins’ GM.
We have agreed to terms with Jon-Eric Sullivan to become our General Manager. pic.twitter.com/8F8DhASJhT
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) January 10, 2026
The Dolphins brought in Hall of Fame quarterback and “Monday Night Football” color analyst Troy Aikman to serve as a consultant in the GM hiring process, and he was among Sullivan’s biggest supporters, according to a league source.
The team’s other GM finalists included interim GM Champ Kelly, Los Angeles Chargers assistant GM Chad Alexander and San Francisco 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams. Alexander’s involvement had spurred speculation about coaching free agent John Harbaugh, who spent many years working with Alexander in Baltimore.
In over two decades with the Packers, Sullivan (a former collegiate player and assistant coach at Gardner-Webb) worked his way up through the scouting department to his latest role as vice president of player personnel, which he’s held since 2022. Sullivan interviewed for front-office roles with the New York Jets, Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders last offseason.
The Dolphins, who fired coach Mike McDaniel on Thursday, have missed the playoffs the last two seasons and have not won a playoff game since 2000 — the longest active drought in the NFL.
Sullivan has work to do in his first time leading an NFL organization. According to OvertheCap, the Dolphins are projected to be $23 million over the salary cap heading into the offseason.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, whose future in Miami is uncertain, has $54 million of guaranteed money on his deal in 2026. If he is released before June 1, the Dolphins would take on a dead money cap hit of over $92 million next season. Miami would save $13 million in cap space if it trades Tagovailoa after June 1.
Five-time first-team All-Pro Tyreek Hill may be expendable, with no guaranteed money left on his deal and a $51.8 million cap hit next season. Hill is recovering from a torn ACL.
At this spring’s NFL Draft, the Dolphins are set to have eight selections. They have their first- and second-rounders, as well as three third-round selections. Miami may also receive an additional compensatory pick.