The Miami Dolphins have named their next general manager, with Jon-Eric Sullivan being officially announced to the role on Friday. The 50-year-old has been with the organization since 2022 and will replace Chris Grier, who left the post in October.
The hire was made in no small part with the assistance of Cowboys icon Troy Aikman. The Hall of Famer and Monday Night Football analyst worked with the Dolphins as a consultant during their GM search and was reportedly one of Sullivan’s biggest supporters.
Now the three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback will work in a similar capacity to help identify Miami’s next head coach. That development comes Saturday morning from NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.
Aikman has long been considered a solid candidate for an executive role with an NFL team. According to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, the 59-year-old was “incredibly involved, incredibly thoughtful, and completely committed” to the Dolphins’ GM search process.
But it was a side hustle the famed QB didn’t expect.
“At first, I wanted to make sure I could provide them what it was that they were hoping I could,” Aikman said Friday on a call-in with 1310 AM/96.7 FM The Ticket. “Gave it some thought and then as I dove into it, talked with more people, I became more and more confident that I could. So, off we went, and it’s been great. We’ll see where this might go, but I’ve really enjoyed it.”
Obviously, Aikman’s own football smarts and experience as a foundational piece of the Cowboys’ dramatic rebuild of the 1990s make him an attractive resource for the Dolphins. But the fact that he’s spent years getting to know the NFL’s coaches, owners, and executives in his Monday Night Football role brings a rare level of insight.
“It made sense primarily because I feel like I’ve got access to unique information, and in addition to that, unique experiences. From the broadcasting side of it, I’ve made so many relationships around the league after 25 years and have a number of friends, whether it’s GMs, head coaches, offensive coordinators,” Aikman explained. “So, that’s what Miami really wanted to tap into, and I feel like it has served them well.”
The Dolphins have reportedly reached out to former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh about an interview. Harbaugh is expected to be a very popular name this hiring cycle after his dismissal in Baltimore.
As for Aikman, he says this stint with the Dolphins won’t impact his TV job, at least in the immediate future. But it may whet his appetite for pursuing a job in a front office somewhere down the road.
Many Cowboys fans believe that office should be located at The Star in Frisco. But Aikman says Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has never reached out to him concerning a head coach or personnel hire in the 25 years since he ended his playing career.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Report: Cowboys icon Troy Aikman to continue consulting Dolphins on HC search
Reporting by Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
