The Miami Dolphins were stripped of a 2023 first-round draft pick and a 2024 third-round pick in connection with “impermissible communications with quarterback Tom Brady in 2019-20,” the league announced Tuesday, citing two individual cases.
The Dolphins, who have long been linked to Brady and Sean Payton as part of a possible coach-quarterback package for the organization, were also found to have had “impermissible communications with both Mr. Brady and his agent during and after the 2021 season , while under contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The investigation also noted that in January 2022, the team “had impermissible communications with Don Yee, the agent of New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, about Mr. Payton serving as Miami’s head coach.”
As a result of the violations, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is also suspended until October 17, 2022.
Tom Brady warms up for a game against the Dolphins on Oct. 10, 2021. Getty Images Dolphins owner Stephen Ross before the game against the Browns on Nov. 24, 2019. Diamond Images/Getty Images
“Investigators found tampering violations of unprecedented scope and severity,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “I am not aware of a previous case of a team violating the ban on tampering with both a head coach and a star player, to the potential detriment of multiple other clubs, over a period of several years.”
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