The Miami Dolphins might have let head coach Joe Philbin back on the plane after Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets in London, but that doesn’t mean he stuck around long. Today, the Dolphins fired Philbin after over three seasons of mediocrity.
The Dolphins were supposed to contend in the AFC East this year, especially after signing Ndamukong Suh to a major deal, and things got off to a pretty good start with a win over the Washington Redskins in week 1. But then the Dolphins proceeded to lose the next three games in miserable fashion. The lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars by three points and lost to their division rival Buffalo Bills and Jets in two straight blow-outs.
The Sun Sentinel confirmed this afternoon that Philbin was fired. The team later made it official. The Sun Sentinel reported that assistant coach Dan Campbell will step in as interim coach.
Philbin had started his fourth season with the Dolphins as head coach. He never made the playoffs and finished 7-9 in his first year and 8-8 in the past two years. The Dolphins have only made the playoffs once since 2002 and that was in 2008, when the New England Patriots lost Tom Brady to an injury.
“I want to thank Steve Ross for allowing me the privilege to serve as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins,” Philbin said in a statement. “This is a tremendous organization from top to bottom that has a talented and dedicated staff. I want to especially thank the players, coaches and football staff who have worked so unselfishly and represented the team with dignity and class. I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the incredible fan base who has supported me and my family unconditionally since day one. It is my hope that the 2015 Miami Dolphins achieve great success both on and off the field.”