The Miami Dolphins‘ intention next week with the start of their general manager vacancy is reportedly to hit the ground running. They should expect to, given that the Dolphins have had a head start on the whole thing by two months. But who should we be keeping an eye out for? It is worth acknowledging some of the more well-regarded candidates on the general manager front.

We’ll spend the next few days getting to know some of the most popular names before the official interview window opens. One such candidate to know is Pittsburgh Steelers assistant general manager Andy Weidl. Here are five things Dolphins fans should know about this potential general manager candidate as Miami prepares to start seeking out formal interviews next week.

Five things Dolphins fans should know about general manager candidate & Pittsburgh Steelers assistant general manager Andy Weidl

1. Offensive Line Roots Are Strong

Weidl is a former offensive lineman himself — he played at Villanova University outside of Philadelphia and was given the team’s Thomas J. Burke Award for his “consistent performance and dedication” as an offensive lineman with the program. Weidl is credited for his role in helping to assemble the Eagles’ offensive line — he was on staff for the drafting of Jordan Mailata in the seventh round of the 2018 draft and Landon Dickerson in the second round of the 2021 draft.

Upon Weidl’s arrival in Pittsburgh, the team quickly overhauled the trenches. The Steelers, with Weidl as the assistant general manager, drafted Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick, and Zach Frazier — four-fifths of their offensive line. The fifth starter, Isaac Seumalo, signed in free agency with the Steelers in 2023, one year after Weidl’s arrival. The place he played before Pittsburgh? You guessed it. Philadelphia.

2. Groomed By Some Greats

Howie Roseman. Ozzy Newsome. Weidl’s worked with both. He spent the vast majority of his career as a scout in the Ravens’ system, which is notorious for having groomed successful executives. Weidl got his glow up in Philadelphia, earning two promotions in three seasons under Howie Roseman. Weidl became a prominent presence in their scouting operation before taking the Assistant general manager position in Pittsburgh under Steelers general manager Omar Khan. Khan and Weidl both started their NFL careers together in New Orleans back in the late 1990s.

3. Rooted In Western PA

One of the things the Dolphins would need to negotiate if Weidl ends up being high on their list is that he’s born and bred in western Pennsylvania. His current team is “home”. Weidl is a native of Pittsburgh and played high school football at Mt. Lebanon before moving east to play for Villanova on the east side of the state.

Weidl has proven he’s been willing to work away from “home” before, but just one link off the top of the food chain, it’s probably fair to speculate on Weidl’s interest in moving halfway across the country? Is he that hungry for general manager role, or is he willing to be patient?

4. Rapid Ascension Once Off The Road

Weidl went from an area scout in 2016 to Vice President of Player Personnel in four years once he transitioned from Baltimore to Philadelphia. What does that mean? Well, considering that the Ravens’ front office under legendary executive Ozzy Newsome was loaded with future executives, and it’s easy to understand how the pipeline got a little backed up. That rapid ascension in Philadelphia should be considered a great testament to his abilities — and it’s been further reinforced with several seasons in positions of power in both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

5. Great Background Means Great Connections

Ozzie Newsome. Howie Roseman. Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta. Former Jets general manager Joe Douglas. Chargers assistant general manager Chad Alexander. Chicago Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham. New York Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown. Philadelphia Eagles assistant general managers Alec Halaby & Jon Ferrari. Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry. New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis. Steelers general manager Omar Khan.

These are just the current high-ranking front office executives Weidl has overlapped with. And that’s before you get to head coaches like Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh, and their subsequent coaching trees. Just Harbaugh’s 2016 Ravens staff had Marc Trestman, Marty Mornhinweg, Juan Castillo, Dean Pees, Wink Martindale, Chris Hewitt, Leslie Frazier, and Mike Macdonald on the staff.