Jalen Ramsey happy Dolphins traded him to team with 'a lot of respect for the head coach'

USA Today

10 hours ago

After two seasons with the Miami Dolphins, Jalen Ramsey's time with the team ended with a divorce.
Ramsey and the Dolphins agreed to part ways in April and, more than two months later, a trade got done that sent the seven-time Pro Bowler to the Pittsburgh Steelers. While no explicit reason for Ramsey's desire to play elsewhere was ever voiced, reports said he had an "irreparably broken" relationship with Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and the cornerback's social media suggested the same.
Earlier this week, Ramsey seemed to continue to throw subtle shade at McDaniel when discussing the trade with Fred Taylor on "The Pivot" podcast.
"I do appreciate the Dolphins and them working with me," Ramsey said. "Not just, 'hey, this team called and, you know, we're going to send you here.' ... Let's go to a team that's going to be able to compete. Let's go to a team where there's a lot of respect for the head coach."
Respect for the head coach seems to have been the missing ingredient for Ramsey in Miami.
Earlier in training camp, Dolphins tight end Tanner Conner told reporters that the team is better off now that "we've gotten some players out who might have not been as respectful." Who those players were is anyone's guess, but Ramsey seems to be at the top of the list of suspects.
Ramsey also expressed regret on the podcast for angling to become a member of the Dolphins in the first place.
"When I got traded from LA, I was literally praying to go to Miami, and it was probably not for all the right reasons," Ramsey said. "Obviously, football has always and will always be very important for me, but I also had other things in the back of my mind, too. Like, I want I want to live in a good city. I want my kids to enjoy life and, you know, be in the sun and have pools year round. I want my family to come to visit me."
In exchange for Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith, and a 2027 seventh-round pick, the Dolphins received safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick in return.