At some point this offseason, the Miami Dolphins quietly extended the contract of general manager Jeff Ireland, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald reports.
According to Beasley, the extension assures that Ireland, who many believed was in the final year of his contract, will be with the club through at least the 2014 season.
Ireland has been with the Dolphins since he was hired by Bill Parcells on Jan. 2, 2008. Ireland had scouted with the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys before he was promoted to vice president of college and pro scouting by the Parcells-led Cowboys in 2005.
Ireland inherited a roster that had gone 1-15 in 2007. Over the last five-plus seasons, the Dolphins are 41-42, including an 11-5 season and playoff berth in 2008 and an impressive 3-0 start to the 2013 season. Eleven of the Dolphins' 22 starters on offense and defense were drafted by Ireland, who also signed Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Wake out of the CFL and made defensive tackle Randy Starks, a 2012 Pro Bowler, one of his key signings in free agency.
News of the Ireland explains the Dolphins' summer push for contract extensions. Since training camp opened, the Dolphins extended the contracts of safety Reshad Jones and linebacker Koa Misi and were also looking to extend the contract of nose tackle Paul Soliai, who is the only starter on the Dolphins who was with the team before Ireland arrived.