Sean Payton. Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

GM Chris Grier confirms Dolphins called Saints about Sean Payton

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 3/2/22

Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier told reporters on Wednesday that "the door is shut" on a potential trade for Houston Texans star quarterback Deshaun Watson. Grier's latest comments seemed to indicate the Dolphins are, in fact, "all in" on 2020 first-round pick Tua Tagovailoa serving as their QB1 through the start of the 2022 season:

When asked whether he felt Tua Tagovailoa could be an elite quarterback, Dolphins GM Chris Grier said: "I can't say he can't be."

Says Tua is still early in his career and now gets a chance to play in a system better suited to his skill set
— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) March 2, 2022

That wasn't Grier's most interesting revelation of the day.

Earlier this week, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported the Dolphins wanted to pursue Sean Payton to be their next head coach after he stepped down from his role with the New Orleans Saints in January and also were hoping to link Payton with quarterback Tom Brady, who could eventually serve as a minority owner and maybe do so as soon as this year if the G.O.A.T. is serious about retiring following the 2021 season.

Per ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques, Grier confirmed half of that story:

Chris Grier said the Dolphins reached out to the Saints to gauge Sean Payton’s availability but New Orleans blocked any possible move for the now-retired coach.

Grier said he had “no conversations” about Tom Brady
— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) March 2, 2022

As Pro Football Network's Aaron Wilson and others have pointed out, Payton is under contract with the Saints through the 2024 season, meaning the Dolphins or any other team would have to offer New Orleans compensation to land the 58-year-old.

Miami ultimately moved on and hired former San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel as the replacement for Brian Flores, but this latest development shows some in the NFL community believed Payton could've been lured back to the sidelines this year had the Saints given their blessing.

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