Stephen A. Smith has sparked fierce controversy online after questioning why the Miami Dolphins’ black general manager was the first man to lose his job amid their struggles this season.
Less than 24 hours after their latest humiliating defeat to the Baltimore Ravens, Miami announced Friday that Chris Grier has left his role as GM after both parties agreed to go their separate ways.
The decision marks a major shakeup for the Dolphins, who have lost seven of their first nine games of the season, though under-fire head coach Mike McDaniel appears to have kept his head above water for now.
And according to Smith, the finger should have been pointed at McDaniel and struggling quarterback Tua Tagovailoa before Grier. ‘This BS,’ the ESPN star fumed on Friday’s First Take. ‘That’s the first fire? Really? That’s what we’re doing?
‘There are things that need to be modified, but the personnel that they have on their squad, although we’re not happy with it, we didn’t walk into this season thinking they were gonna be trash. We looked at their roster and we said they’ve got some potential, we’ll see what happens.
‘It was about Tua, it was about Mike McDaniel, and the brother gets fired first? All I know is this, I better hear Mike McDaniel’s name today. It better not just be Chris Grier.’
Stephen A. Smith has sparked uproar after questioning why the Dolphins axed GM Chris Grier
Miami announced Friday that Grier has left his role as GM amid their nightmare run of form
Viewers quickly took to social media to accuse Smith of blaming Grier’s exit on race, with many pointing out that McDaniel actually has African American ancestry from his grandmother.
One user posted on X: ‘Who wants to [tell] @stephenasmith that Mike McDaniel is a brother?’
Another commented: ‘ONLY Stephen A could find a way to make it about race’.
‘Make it all about race when Greer has been complete a** across multiple coaches, not just McDaniel,’ said a third.
A fourth wrote to Smith: ’25 years. That is how long Chris Grier has been with this organization. It’s also how long it has been since the Dolphins won a playoff game. Mike McDaniel was 17 when Grier joined the team and Tua was 2. Hope this helps.’
While a fifth pointed out: ‘Grier was the longest tenured General Manager without a playoff win. Think this may have something to do with it!?’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Smith’s agents, Endeavor, for comment.
Amid the outrage over his comments, the First Take personality appeared to backtrack on Friday evening when discussing Grier’s exit on his YouTube show.
‘I am unapologetic about the fact that I root for and support black men getting jobs in these positions,’ he stressed. ‘I’m also fair-minded enough to say when they lose their jobs if they deserve to lose it – and you can’t make an argument on behalf of Chris Grier. You just can’t do it.’
Head coach Mike McDaniel is reportedly expected to keep his job until the end of the season
Grier had served as the Dolphins’ GM since 2016, with the franchise failing to make it past the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs in that time and missing out on the postseason altogether on six occasions.
Senior personnel executive Champ Kelly is set to take over as interim general manager with the Dolphins next playing on November 9 against divisional rivals, the Buffalo Bills, allowing for a lengthy adjustment period.
‘I’m not saying that he don’t deserve it because of the way they look. He’s at the helm. I got it, I understand it,’ Smith added in his rant on First Take. ‘Listen, I’m all for brothers as head coaches, we know what battles I’ve been fighting for over 30 years. But when you don’t get the job done you don’t get the damn job done, period.
‘Don’t tell me it’s just him. Don’t tell me we gonna leave Mike McDaniel in place and we just gonna fire him and we gonna move forward. Damn that!
‘I’m waiting for more news. Again, I can’t defend Chris Grier with some of the decisions that have been made personnel wise, I got it, I understand it. It’s unfortunate, but I got it. But I’ll be damned if it gets to stop there.’
