Tom Garfinkel has stepped away from his day-to-day responsibilities as president and chief executive of the Miami Dolphins after 13 years, prompting a wider restructuring of owner Stephen Ross’ sporting interests.

Garfinkel is not leaving the organisation entirely. He will remain vice-chairman of both the Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium, as well as managing partner of the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, while serving as an adviser to Ross and his successor. His operational responsibilities, however, pass to Daniel Sillman, who has been appointed chief executive of the newly-formed Ross Sports & Entertainment, which will serve as an umbrella organisation overseeing the Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Grand Prix, Miami Open tennis tournament and Precision Drive Club.

Sillman will oversee the existing executive leadership team and the Dolphins’ football operation. Head coach Jeff Hafley, general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and executive vice-president of football operations Brandon Shore will report directly to him. The 37-year-old is Ross’ son-in-law and has worked alongside the Dolphins owner for almost a decade. Sillman led the searches that resulted in Hafley and Sullivan being appointed during the 2026 offseason and was involved in securing private investment across Ross’ sporting businesses. He will continue as executive chairman of Relevent Sports, the media-rights company he co-founded. Relevent has negotiated agreements for UEFA, the Premier League, LaLiga, the Bundesliga and the English Football League, including deals reportedly worth $1.4bn between LaLiga and ESPN and $1.5bn between UEFA and Paramount.

“Danny’s deep familiarity with the organisation’s businesses, combined with his experience building globally recognised sports and media companies, uniquely positions him to lead Ross Sports & Entertainment into its next phase of operation,” Ross said. “He understands our culture, our ambitions and where we’re headed, and I have complete confidence in his ability to lead the organisation into this new era.”

The change concludes an influential executive tenure for Garfinkel, who joined Miami in 2013 and helped turn the Dolphins from a traditional NFL franchise into the centre of a broader sports and entertainment operation. Annual revenue increased by more than 400 per cent during his leadership, while the organisation secured more than $3bn in future contracted sponsorship income. Garfinkel also oversaw the privately funded $550m transformation of Hard Rock Stadium and development of the $135m Baptist Health Training Complex.

The stadium subsequently added the Miami Grand Prix and Miami Open to its annual calendar, securing the F1 race through 2041. It has hosted the Super Bowl and two College Football Playoff national championship games, with seven matches also being staged there during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Garfinkel also helped expand the Dolphins Cancer Challenge into the NFL’s largest charitable fundraiser, having generated more than $100m for cancer research.

“I love the Dolphins and the people here but, after 13 years, it was just the right time for me to make this decision,” Garfinkel said. “The business has never been in a better place and the team of people we have here is second to none in sports.”

Although presented as an executive transition, the reorganisation also strengthens the succession structure around the Dolphins. Sillman and his wife Kimberly, Ross’ daughter, have previously been identified alongside her sister Jennifer as part of the franchise’s long-term ownership plan.