The Dolphins’ Former GM Just Landed in Allen Park
Brad Holmes just added another veteran voice to his front office. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Lions have hired Chris Grier to an unspecified “personnel executive” position. Grier mutually parted ways with the Dolphins in the middle of the 2025 season after a full decade as Miami’s general manager.
Look, ten years as a GM is no small thing. Grier posted five winning seasons in Miami, including four straight from 2020-23, and got the Dolphins to three playoff appearances. The problem? They went 0-3 in those playoff games and finished with a 77-80 record over his entire tenure. Sound familiar, Lions fans?
The Chris Grier Resume Has Some Highs and Lows
Grier’s track record is the kind that keeps you up at night if you’re a fan. Early hits like Laremy Tunsil, Xavien Howard, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Andrew Van Ginkel showed he could spot talent. But then you have the Tua Tagovailoa pick and that expensive Tyreek Hill trade that was supposed to put Miami over the top.
In his final year, the Dolphins roster was in serious need for talent and finished with a disappointing 7-10 record. Not exactly the resume of a franchise savior, but this is a different role in a different building under a different general manager.
Where Does Grier Fit in Allen Park?
The Lions’ personnel department is already loaded with talent evaluators. Ray Agnew as assistant GM, John Dorsey as senior personnel executive, Brian Hudspeth running college scouting. The list goes on. It’s unclear if Grier is joining this group or replacing someone.
Before running Miami’s draft room, Grier spent time as their director of college scouting from 2007-15 and cut his teeth as a scout with both the Dolphins and Patriots. That’s legitimate NFL experience, the kind Holmes values when building his operation.
The timing is interesting too. Detroit is searching for a new team president after Rod Wood announced his retirement earlier this offseason. Could this be related? Hard to say, but Holmes doesn’t make moves just to make moves.
This feels like Holmes adding depth and experience to his front office rather than making any dramatic changes. And honestly? After watching this franchise for decades, seeing Brad Holmes methodically build his infrastructure is still a thing of beauty. Even if Grier’s Miami tenure was underwhelming, he brings a decade of GM experience to a building that’s gotten really good at turning other teams’ castoffs into contributors.
Is Holmes building the deepest front office in the league or just collecting every available exec who knows how to scout? What’s your read on the Grier hire?
