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The 2016 coaching search for the Miami Dolphins is over. The team has officially hired Adam Gase, the former Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos offensive coordinator, as their next head coach. Gase will become the 12th head coach in team history, including the three interim head coaches employed during in-season coaching changes.
Gase has been among the top candidates this offseason, widely seen as the top coordinator available to be a head coach.
Gase started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at LSU in 2000, then moved to w two year stint as a recruiting assistant with the school. He jumped to the NFL level in 2003 as a scouting assistant with the Detroit Lions. In 2005, the Lions made him an offensive assistant before promoting him again in 2007 to quarterbacks coach. In 2008, Gase moved to the San Francisco 49ers, where he was an offensive assistant, before moving to the Broncos in 2009 as their wide receiver coach. In 2011, the Broncos moved him to the quarterbacks coach position, then promoted him again in 2013 to the offensive coordinator position. He moved this year to the Bears when John Fox and Denver "mutually agreed to part ways" and was hired by the Bears.
Gase is said to remain close to Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, whom he coached from 2012 to 2014. Manning has given Gase endorsements to become a head coach, and has repeatedly pointed out Gase's role in the Denver offense, an offense where many felt Gase rode on Manning's coattails. Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot even speculates that Gase and Manning could re-unite at some point in the future, potentially after Manning retires from playing, with the possibility that Manning moves into a front-office type of role.
The Dolphins fired former head coach Joe Philbin after the team started 1-3 this past season. Tight ends coach Dan Campbell was then promoted to interim head coach, where he finished the season. Campbell was interviewed for the head coach position, and speculation indicates Gase could decide to keep him on the new Miami coaching staff in some position.
The team also interviewed former Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith, former Washington Redskins / Denver Broncos / Oakland Raiders head coach Mike Shanahan, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, Buffalo Bills assistant head coach Anthony Lynn, and Jacksonville Jaguars assistant head coach Doug Marrone for the head coaching position.
Gase is 37 years old, and will turn 38 in March.