The Miami Dolphins are searching for a new head coach and names like Mike Shanahan, Adam Gase, Teryl Austin and Chip Kelly could be potential options for the team. The Dolphins also have Lamar Miller, Rishard Matthews and Olivier Vernon hitting free agency and will have to make decisions on whether to bring those players back for 2016.
The Dolphins had a disappointing season in 2015 after coming into the year with high expectations and now Stephen Ross will look to start over in the front office. Joe Philbin was fired during the season and Dennis Hickey will not return as general manager, putting executive V.P. Mike Tannenbaum in the main decision-making role for the time being. According to Fox Sports, the Dolphins will interview Mike Shanahan for the head coaching job, while Gase and Austin also reportedly will be interviewed.
Shanahan last was with the Washington Redskins and according to Alex Marvez at Fox Sports, Shanahan will interview for the job on Tuesday. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase has multiple interviews lined up, including one with the Dolphins. Gase also reportedly will interview with the Cleveland Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles. Gase previously was the offensive coordinator in Denver while John Fox was there and later moved to Chicago when Fox was hired.
The Dolphins are looking at a number of candidates for the job, as Josina Anderson of ESPN reports that Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin also will interview with Miami. Austin reportedly will also meet with the Cleveland Browns about their open head coaching position after Mike Pettine was fired. Armando Salguero at the Miami Herald reports that the Dolphins are also planning to "speak with" Doug Marrone about the open head coaching job, as he has been getting attention from a number of teams as a candidate.
Salguero writes that Marrone and Tannenbaum have a past relationship from their time with the Jets, while Austin will help Miami complete their requirement for the Rooney Rule. Salguero reports that the Dolphins are planning to interview interim head coach Dan Campbell for the job as well, but that he will not be an "early interview" candidate for the team. The Dolphins want to start interviewing candidates, as a number of teams have openings and could go after names like Gase, Austin and Shanahan.
Miami has a number of important player decisions to make, as Lamar Miller, Olivier Vernon and Rishard Matthews are free agents. Rand Getlin at NFL Network reports that the team likely will not let Vernon go, while Matthews and Miller are also options to return in 2016. Miller will have suitors on the market, while Matthews should get some attention after having a solid season. Ryan Tannehill likely will be back as well, but his future is uncertain depending on which head coach takes over in Miami.
