Jeff Ireland Jeff Ireland ( born in Abilene , Texas ) is the general manager for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League . He has previously served as an executive for the Dallas Cowboys , a scout for the Kansas City Chiefs and an assistant coach for the North Texas Mean Green . He played college football for the Baylor Bears . As a child he was a ball boy for the Chicago Bears . High school and college career . Ireland was a placekicker for Cooper High School in the 1980s , and then for the Baylor Bears from 1988 to 1991 . Upon the conclusion of his playing career , he served as special teams coach for the North Texas Mean Green from 1992 to 1993 . At Baylor , Ireland was known for making difficult kicks but missing the easy ones . Against Rice University in 1991 , for example , he made a 58 - yard field goal , then missed field goals of 43 , 45 , and 27 yards . Baylor , a 20 . 5 point favorite , lost the game by three points . Baylor was ranked 8th in the Associated Press poll at that time . Ireland is a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity . Professional career . Early years . Ireland began his professional career as a scout for the NFL Scouting Combine - a job he served from 1994 to 1996 . He then became a scout for the Kansas City Chiefs , holding the position from 1997 to 2000 . Dallas Cowboys . In 2001 , Ireland became a national scout for the Dallas Cowboys . During Ireland ' s time as a college scout , the team drafted four future Pro Bowl selections - safety Roy Williams , offensive lineman Andre Gurode , cornerback Terence Newman and tight end Jason Witten . Ireland served in that capacity until 2005 , when he was promoted to the position of Vice President of College and Pro Scouting . In what would be Ireland ' s final season with Dallas in 2007 , the Cowboys went 13 - 3 and won the NFC East title . At the time of his departure in January 2008 , 38 of the team ' s 53 players were acquired over the past three years , including 12 of 22 starters . Miami Dolphins . On January 2 , 2008 , Ireland was officially hired as general manager of the Miami Dolphins . He was hired by new Executive Vice President of Football Operations Bill Parcells . Ireland and Parcells had worked together previously , as the latter served as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006 . On December 28 , 2008 , the Miami Dolphins defeated the New York Jets 24 - 17 , securing the AFC East title and becoming the first team in NFL history to reach the playoffs after having won only one game during the previous season . In reaction to the victory and title , Ireland granted a rare interview to ESPN ' s Tim Graham , saying , " It ' s a remarkable feeling . I ' m so proud of these coaches , these players . Coach always asked us and the players right there in training camp , ' Why not us ? ' Well , Why not us ? I ' m just so proud of the coaches and what they ' ve done . " In April 2010 , Ireland asked NFL prospect Dez Bryant during a formal interview whether Bryant ' s mother was a prostitute . According to two unnamed NFL sources , Bryant allegedly told Ireland that his dad was a pimp and that his mother worked for his father . Bryant denies ever telling Ireland that his father was a pimp . Ireland later apologized to Bryant for asking the question . On September 7 , 2010 , Ireland assumed full command of operations on a day to day basis . Bill Parcells became a daily consultant for the Miami Dolphins , a position he has since left . Ireland ' s tenure with the Dolphins became controversial as the club ' s on - field successes declined after 2008 . Public efforts to recruit free agent players such as Peyton Manning , and Alex Smith were unsuccessful , as was the effort to recruit former Titans coach Jeff Fisher . Ireland ' s handling of his Dez Bryant interview was cited as an example of poor leadership on Ireland ' s part and a perception that Ireland was not honest in dealings with players . In 2011 , some fans pitched in to have a plane fly over Sun Life Stadium reading : " MR ROSS : SAVE OUR DOLPHINS . FIRE IRELAND . " At a home game in 2012 , Ireland was seen speaking to and taking pictures with fans . One fan told him to " fire yourself " stating that Ireland has made the Miami Dolphins the laughing stock of the NFL since he ' s been GM . Ireland responded to that fan by calling him an " Asshole " . Personal . Ireland is the stepson of College Football Hall of Fame r E . J . Holub , who played center and linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Texans . Ireland is also the grandson of Jim Parmer , who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and was a personnel executive for the Chicago Bears . Jeff and his wife , Rachel , have four children .