Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier’s father Bobby passed on Monday at the age of 82. His time as a front office executive and coach in the NFL spanned several decades, and he last worked in the league alongside his son as a consultant for the Dolphins.
In the wake of his passing, the NFL world has mourned the elder Grier on social media. The Dolphins and New England Patriots issued statements on their official X accounts.
RIP Bobby Grier, he was a big reason Tom Brady was selected by the Patriots in the 2000 draft. https://t.co/nRw6PDHAPw pic.twitter.com/UJkGaNU35j
— Nik Athans (@NEdraftNik) September 22, 2025
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Bobby Grier, father of general manager Chris Grier. Bobby was a longtime executive for the Patriots and Texans and a former consultant for the Dolphins.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Grier family. pic.twitter.com/5J699e11Jf
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) September 22, 2025
In his 17 years in the Texans personnel department, Bobby Grier was a class act, a consummate professional and a terrific judge of talent. He was respected by everyone. Condolences to his family and friends.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) September 22, 2025
The New England Patriots are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Bobby Grier, who served the organization with distinction for nearly two decades in coaching and executive roles: https://t.co/S1HBMcLR4V pic.twitter.com/rHb9SnthbF
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 22, 2025
Elite man, husband, father, and boss. RIP Bobby. 🙏 https://t.co/A15KG5Eoyw
— Jason Licht (@jasonrlicht) September 22, 2025
The elder Grier got his first opportunity in the NFL’s coaching ranks with the Patriots back in the 1980s. He started out as an assistant coach with New England in 1981 and worked his way up to a role in the team’s front office in the 1990s. Ultimately, his stint with the Patriots lasted for nearly two decades as he left New England in 2000.
After he carved out a lengthy tenure in New England, the elder Grier joined the Houston Texans’ staff and functioned as a personnel executive for the squad from 2000 through 2016. Finally, he served as a consultant for the Dolphins since 2017.
It’s certainly more than understandable if the Dolphins aren’t at the top of the younger Grier’s mind at this time now that his father has passed, even with all that has gone wrong for them in the 2025 campaign. Miami is in a tie for the worst record in all of football at 0-3, and the team is facing long odds to get back in the playoffs after it failed to qualify in the 2024 season as well.
It’s possible the Dolphins will start to turn their season around across their next stretch of games. After all, Miami has some very winnable games coming up on its schedule, including matchups against a winless New York Jets squad and the lowly Cleveland Browns.
Regardless of whether one roots for the Dolphins or not, everyone in the NFL sphere should be thinking of the younger Grier during what is definitely a difficult time for him and his family. Hopefully, Miami can at least make him proud with how it fares across the next few weeks.
