Chris Grier serves as the general manager of the Miami Dolphins and oversees personnel and all football operations for the club. The 2025 campaign marks his 26th season with the franchise, rising from area scout to national scout, director of college scouting and general manager during that time. He was named general manager in 2016 and given full control of football operations in 2019.

Chris Grier serves as the general manager of the Miami Dolphins and oversees personnel and all football operations for the club. The 2025 campaign marks his 26th season with the franchise, rising from area scout to national scout, director of college scouting and general manager during that time. He was named general manager in 2016 and given full control of football operations in 2019.

The Dolphins have improved under Grier's leadership, posting five winning seasons, including four consecutive from 2020-23, a feat the franchise had not accomplished in more than 20 years. The Dolphins also reached the postseason in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023, a first for the franchise since 2000-01.

In team building, Grier has utilized all avenues to acquire talented players – providing youth, star power and depth to the roster. He has selected 11 players in the first round, seven of whom remain on the 2025 roster. Grier has evaluated and drafted 13 players who have signed contracts valued among the top 10 at their positions, including four of the highest paid, either for Miami or elsewhere. In 2024, this included wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, securing their production for years to come with long-term contract extensions.

Grier has also acquired several impact players via free agency. The 2024 Dolphins free agent class included players such as tight end Jonnu Smith, who had a record season for the team in 2024, and notable starters like center Aaron Brewer, linebacker Jordyn Brooks and decorated defensive tackle Calais Campbell. Grier has also identified and added talent through the waiver wire – such as defensive tackle Zach Sieler, who had consecutive historic seasons for the Dolphins in 2024-25 – and with numerous undrafted college free agents who have gone on to become perennial starters for the club.

Since he took over football operations, Grier has not shied away from trades, making 44 over the past seven years. This includes two trades ahead of the 2025 season to acquire three-time first-team All Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, whom Grier first drafted to the Dolphins in 2018, from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a blockbuster deal, as well as tight end Darren Waller from the Giants. Other notable trades include sending tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Houston Texans for a bevy of picks in 2019, trading for then-six time Pro Bowl wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Pro Bowl linebacker Bradley Chubb in 2022, and acquiring three-time All Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey in 2023.

In 2024, the Dolphins won six of their last nine games after opening the season with a 2-6 record and improved in nearly every metric over the second half of the year. Tagovailoa led the league with a 72.9 completion percentage, which set a single-season franchise record and was the third-best mark in NFL history. Smith set franchise records by a tight end in receptions (88), receiving yards (884) and receiving touchdowns (8). Running back De'Von Achane, whom Grier selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, set franchise records in receptions (78) and receiving touchdowns (6) by a running back.

Miami's defense also had success in 2024, finishing fourth in total defense (314.4), marking the second consecutive year the Dolphins delivered a top-10 defensive finish. Sieler led the unit, recording 10-plus sacks (10.0) in back-to-back seasons, becoming the first Dolphin to do so since Cameron Wake (2016-17). Brooks recorded the most tackles (143) by a Dolphin since Pro Football Hall of Famer Zach Thomas. Linebacker Chop Robinson, Miami's first-round selection (21st overall) in 2024, recorded the fifth-most sacks (6.0) by a rookie in franchise history.

On special teams, kicker Jason Sanders had a career year in 2024, with 37 field goals made, including 27 consecutive to close the season, a franchise record. Sanders also made nine-consecutive field goals of more than 50 yards, included several game-winning or game tying kicks, and was the only kicker in the NFL to make at least one field goal in all 17 games.

In 2023, Grier put together a roster that included 10 different players with a combined 33 Pro Bowl appearances, and six of the NFL's Top 100, as voted by the players. The 2023 Dolphins won 11 games for the first time since 2008, led by a historic offensive unit, and advanced to the postseason for the second consecutive year. Miami led the NFL in total offense (401.3) for the first time since 1994 and ranked second in scoring offense (29.2). Miami also had a top 10 defense (10th, 318.3 yards allowed per game) for the first time since 2010.

Several players delivered career seasons for the Dolphins in 2023. Tagovailoa became the first Dolphin to lead the league in passing yards (4,624) since Dan Marino in 1992. Hill became the first Dolphin to ever lead the league in receiving yards (1,799), setting a new single-season franchise record. Running back Raheem Mostert, a free agent signing in 2022, also broke team records for rushing touchdowns (18) and total touchdowns (23). Waddle became the first player in team record books with three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons. The 2023 campaign also marked the first time in team history the Dolphins had a 4,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers in the same season.

Defensively, the Dolphins shattered the team sacks record of 49.0 (1983 and 2005) with 56.0 sacks. Sieler, whom Grier signed to a contract extension shortly before the 2023 season, became the first Dolphins defensive tackle to ever top double-digit sacks (10.0) in a season. In his first full season with the club, Chubb had 11.0 sacks, the most by a Dolphin since 2017 (Cameron Wake). It was the first time Miami had teammates with double-digit sacks in the same season since 2003.

As a result of team success, Miami had six players selected to the Pro Bowl in 2023, tied for second-most in the AFC and fourth-most in the NFL. Three of those selections were first-time Pro Bowl players in Tagovailoa, Mostert and fullback Alec Ingold, whom Miami also signed as a free agent in 2022 and was extended at the start of the 2023 season. Hill was a unanimous first-team All-Pro selection and named to his eighth straight Pro Bowl. Ramsey earned his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl selection despite missing the first seven games of the season due to injury. Miami's sixth Pro Bowl selection was tackle Terron Armstead, whom Grier signed as an unrestricted free agent in 2022.

The 2022 season saw the Dolphins secure a playoff berth for the first time since 2016 after finishing with a 9-8 record. With a talented roster and under new head coach Mike McDaniel, the Dolphins delivered a top 10 total offense for the first time since 1995, ranking sixth (364.5 yards per game). Miami was second in yards per play (6.1) and fourth in passing offense (265.4).

Tagovailoa became the youngest NFL quarterback since Dan Marino in 1984 to lead the league in passer rating (105.5). He also led the NFL in red zone passer rating (112.2), third-down passer rating (130.1) and yards per attempt (8.9).

In Hill's first season with the team, he shattered his career highs and the franchise's single-season records for receiving yards (1,710) and receptions (119), finishing second in the league in both. His 1,710 receiving yards were the most by any player in NFL history in his first season with a new team. He earned first-team All-Pro honors and was selected to his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl.

Waddle also put together one of the best seasons by a receiver in Dolphins history in 2022, catching 75 passes for 1,356 yards and eight touchdowns. His 18.1 yards per catch led the NFL while his 1,356 receiving yards were third in Dolphins history. Hill and Waddle combined for 3,066 receiving yards, which was the third-most by a pair of teammates in a season in NFL history.

Defensively, Miami finished fourth in the league in rush defense (103.0) in 2022. Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, whom Grier drafted in the first round (13th overall) in the 2019 NFL Draft, recorded a career-high 98 tackles, the most in a season by an NFL defensive lineman since 1994. Linebacker Jaelan Phillips, a first-round pick (18th overall) of Grier's in 2021, led the team in sacks for the second straight season with 7.0. Cornerback Xavien Howard (2016, second round) earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection.

In 2021, the Dolphins won eight of their final nine games, including their final six at home. Grier helped construct a defensive unit that featured eight starters drafted by the Dolphins and all 11 starters under the age of 30. The group scored five defensive touchdowns, its most in a single season since 2001.

Miami's 2021 draft class earned key roles immediately. Waddle broke the NFL's nearly 20-year-old rookie receptions record with 104 catches and became the first rookie in Dolphins history to total 1,000 receiving yards. Phillips broke Miami's rookie sack record and finished second among all NFL rookies in the statistic with 8.5. Safety Jevon Holland was the only player in the AFC in 2021 to have multiple sacks, interceptions and fumble recoveries. Offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg was one of just 10 NFL rookie offensive linemen to start at least 16 games.

Howard earned his third Pro Bowl selection in 2021 and Wilkins totaled 89 tackles, which was tied for the most by any NFL defensive lineman since 2013 before he topped that figure in 2022.

In 2020, the Dolphins won 10 games for just the second time in the past decade despite having the second-youngest roster in the NFL. The five-game improvement from 2019 was tied for the best in the league that season and the Dolphins set a team record by starting 10 different rookies that year.

With several offseason additions, Grier helped build one of the NFL's best defenses in 2020. Miami led the league in third-down defense (28.8 pct.) and takeaways (29) and finished sixth in scoring (21.1 points allowed per game).

Two of Grier's draft picks – Howard and Sanders (2018, seventh round) – earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2020, marking the first time since 2006 (Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor) the Dolphins had two first-team All-Pro honorees in the same season.

In 2019, when Grier was given full control of football operations, the Dolphins steadily improved despite having the youngest roster in the NFL, winning five of their final nine games. Wilkins led all rookie defensive linemen with 56 tackles, the fifth-most by an NFL rookie defensive lineman since 2015.

From 2016-18, Grier oversaw the draft and both pro and college scouting departments. He was responsible for the acquisition of multiple All-Pro and Pro Bowl players including Howard, Sanders, Tunsil, Fitzpatrick and wide receiver/returner Jakeem Grant. Other notable selections included linebacker Jerome Baker – a third-round pick in 2018 who went on to become a team captain and record 500-plus tackles in his first fives seasons in the league – and running back Kenyan Drake.

In his first draft as general manager in 2016, Grier selected Howard in the second round. In his first seven NFL seasons, Howard earned a first-team All-Pro nod (2020), was selected to the Pro Bowl four times (2018, 2020-22), led the NFL in interceptions in one season (2020), tied for the NFL lead in interceptions in another (2018) and totaled more interceptions than any other NFL player in that span.

Grier helped turn more than half the roster over in 2016, as the team entered training camp with more than 45 new players acquired during the offseason. The results were a four-game improvement from the previous season, the fifth-best mark in the NFL. The Dolphins finished 10-6 with a playoff berth, the team's best record and first playoff appearance since 2008.

From 2007-15, Grier served as the team's director of college scouting (2007-15). During that time, the Dolphins won the AFC East in 2008 and drafted seven players that combined for 14 Pro Bowl selections with the team. The list includes tackle Jake Long (2008-10), defensive tackle Paul Soliai (2011), punter Brandon Fields (2013), center Mike Pouncey (2013-15), safety Reshad Jones (2015, 2017), wide receiver Jarvis Landry (2015-17) and running back Jay Ajayi (2016).

Grier was also successful at finding value late in drafts. Jones, a fifth-round pick in 2010, was named the team's co-MVP following the 2015 season after he became the first player in team history to record at least 100 tackles, four interceptions and two sacks in a season. Ajayi was also a fifth-round pick (2015) and became the fourth player in NFL history to rush for 200 yards in three games during the same season. Ajayi's 1,272 rushing yards in 2016 were third-most in Dolphins history.

Prior to being the team's director of college scouting, Grier served as an area scout with the club from 2000-02, before being promoted to national scout/assistant director of college scouting in 2003. Miami won the AFC East during his first season with the team.

Grier began his career with the New England Patriots as an intern in 1994. He joined the club on a full-time basis the following year, serving as a regional scout until he joined the Dolphins in 2000. In 1996, Grier was part of a New England staff that won the AFC Championship. He helped scout many players for a Patriots roster that went on to win Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX.

Grier has worked with several of football's most successful coaches and executives throughout his career, helping shape his football philosophy. His father, Bobby Grier, is the former vice president of player personnel for the Patriots and senior personnel advisor for the Houston Texans. Grier has also worked with and learned under Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells and legendary coaches Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll and Nick Saban.

Grier attended the University of Massachusetts-Amherst where he majored in journalism and played football for two years before injuries ended his career. He spent his final two years there as an undergraduate assistant.

Chris' brother, Michael, is currently the general manager of the NHL's San Jose Sharks. When Michael was appointed to the position in 2022, he became the first Black general manager in NHL history. Before his tenure in front offices, he played for the Edmonton Oilers, Washington Capitals, San Jose Sharks and Buffalo Sabres.

A native of Holliston, Mass., Grier and his wife, Paige, have two sons, Landon and Jackson.