Dolphins promote Chris Grier to general manager after firing Dennis Hickey

Less than two years after handing him the job, the Miami Dolphins have fired general manager Dennis Hickey, the team announced on Twitter. The decision came ust one day before the end of a disappointing 6-10 campaign, in which the Dolphins let head coach Joe Philbin and offensive coordinator Bill Lazor go in the middle of the season.

To replace Hickey, the Dolphins elected to promote Chris Grier to the general manager position, the team announced on Monday. Grier was previously the team's director of college scouting, and has been with the Dolphins for the past 15 years.

Hickey, who spent 14 years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and worked his way up to the team's director of personnel, was hired by the Dolphins in January 2014. One year later, however, after a second straight 8-8 season, Miami brought in former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum. Tannenbaum was assigned the label of executive vice president of football operations and became Hickey's boss.

In his one season calling the shots, after replacing the deposed Jeff Ireland, Hickey drafted offensive tackle Ja'Wuan James and wide receiver Jarvis Landry. He also made a number of free agent signings. The most notable was the five-year, $47 million contract he handed left tackle Branden Albert.

This is the seventh straight year the Dolphins missed out on the playoffs. They haven't finished with a winning record since 2008.

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