TAMPA, Fla. — Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is aiming to change his team succession plan from vice chairman Bruce Beal to his family, according to a Sports Business Journal report.
According to the report, Ross has “taken steps to notify the league of his intention to change his successor from limited partner Bruce Beal to his daughter, Jennifer Ross,” who reportedly already holds an ownership stake. Ross has not officially completed the process, according to the report, and it’s unclear when it would be done.
The change in the succession plan is not related to last week’s discipline by the NFL for tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton, according to the report. The league on Aug. 2 docked the Dolphins two picks, suspended Ross through Oct. 17 and fined him $1.5 million for having illegal communications with Brady and Payton.
Beal, who in 2016 was approved by the league to have the right of first refusal to purchase the Dolphins, was suspended from all league meetings for the rest of the season and fined $500,000 for having multiple discussions with Brady as a member of the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In a statement, Ross said he “strongly disagree[s] with the conclusions and the punishment. However, I will accept the outcome because the most important thing is that there be no distractions for our team as we begin an exciting and winning season. I will not allow anything to get in the way of that.”
A spokesperson for the Dolphins declined to comment.
