Dolphins fire head coach Joe Philbin

Team owner Stephen Ross makes move following loss to Jets

DAVIE, Fla. – The Joe Philbin era is over in Miami.

Just a day after the Dolphins' third straight loss, team owner Stephen Ross made the decision to fire head coach Joe Philbin.

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"This was a tough decision for me to make knowing how tirelessly Joe worked in his four years here to make this a winning team," Ross said in a statement released by the team. "He is a man of the highest character and integrity that I developed a close personal relationship with. I am extremely disappointed with how we have started the season, but I feel confident that we can improve quickly with the talent we have on our roster."

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Tight ends coach Dan Campbell was named interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

The team had high expectations coming into the 2015 season.

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After signing free agent Ndamukong Suh to one of the richest deals in NFL history and giving quarterback Ryan Tannehill a 100-million dollar contract extension, Ross made it clear before the season he was ready to see the team win.

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Instead, the Dolphins sputtered to a season-opening win at Washington and then lost consecutive games at Jacksonville, at home against Buffalo and in London to the New York Jets.

The team will try to reverse its losing trend under Campbell, who spent 11 seasons in the NFL as a tight end for the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints. He joined the Dolphins prior to the 2010 season.

"We have to change the culture," Campbell said during a news conference Monday. "I have to change the culture, and that's what I intend to do."

Campbell said this is the most talented roster that he's seen since coming to Miami. He said Ross told him that he would provide him with the resources that he needs to win right away.

The 39-year-old coach said he believes he can relate to the players and will challenge each of them in practice and on Sundays.

"I'm going to talk the talk and walk the walk and you follow me," Campbell said of his coaching philosophy.

Philbin was not present at the news conference, but he thanked the team in a news release.

"I want to thank Steve Ross for allowing me the privilege to serve as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins," Philbin said in the same release as Ross. "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."

Since becoming the Dolphins head coach during the 2012 off-season, Philbin team's compiled a record of 24-28 and failed to make the playoffs.

The former offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers, Philbin was widely criticized for being too soft-spoken and for not having a firm grip on the players in the locker room.

During Philbin's tenure, the franchise was rocked by a bullying scandal that tarnished the team's image around the league and in South Florida.

Ross continued to support Philbin despite the team's off-field incidents and fan dissatisfaction over the team's on-field performance.

Miami went 7-9 during Philbin's first year, and followed that by back-to-back 8-8 seasons in 2013 and 2014.

During the offseason, Philbin tried to soften his image, even performing in a team skit wearing a top hat and tails.

Showing his more fun side didn't work.

Ross finally decided that enough was enough.

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About the Author:

David Lang is executive producer of the Local 10 sports department.