[ad_1]
The Dolphins apparently had dreams of a Tom Brady-Sean Payton partnership for the 2022 season.
According to Pro Football Talk, Miami contacted the Saints after the end of the 2021 season for permission to speak with Payton about the Dolphins’ then-vacant head coach position.
The Dolphins reportedly reached out after Payton resigned on Jan. 25, but New Orleans declined the request.
During a Jan. 27 appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Payton played coy about two teams that he claimed reached out to him, via backchannels, after he stepped down as head coach.
However, Miami’s apparent plan to pursue Payton was nixed on Feb. 1, when their former head coach Brian Flores filed a class-action lawsuit against the Dolphins, Giants, Broncos and NFL as a whole, alleging discrimination in their hiring processes.
A week later, the Dolphins announced they hired 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel as their head coach — making him the first minority candidate to get hired this offseason.
McDaniel, who is biracial, replaced Flores after the Dolphins fired him in January following two winning seasons. Flores landed a job with the Steelers as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach, the team announced on Feb. 19.
Brady, meanwhile, was reportedly discussed internally as a potential minority owner of the Dolphins. But any talks of that happening are on hold, according to PFT, due to the uncertainty of Brady’s playing future.
Earlier this month, Brady confirmed rumors that he is retiring after 22 seasons, seven Super Bowl rings and 15 Pro Bowls.
One week later, the Buccaneers quarterback teased a possible comeback on his “Let’s Go!” podcast — telling co-host Jim Gray the he’s “taking things as they come… you know, you never say never.”
Brady remains on the Tampa Bay roster until June 2 at the earliest, per PFT. Any move made involving the quarterback before then would result in a $32 million cap hit for the Buccaneers next season.
The Dolphins currently plan to move forward with McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback.
[ad_2]