Dolphins hire Adam Gase as new head coach

The Miami Dolphins were the first team to fire their head coach this season, parting ways with Joe Philbin way back in Week 5, so perhaps it makes sense that they're the first team to fill their job opening.

Via multiple reports, including the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero, the Dolphins have hired Adam Gase, who was most recently the Chicago Bears' offensive coordinator for the 2015 season.

Gase earned praise for his handling of quarterback Jay Cutler. Before going to Chicago with John Fox, Gase worked with Fox with the Denver Broncos, first as quarterbacks coach and then as offensive coordiantor, where he was reportedly close with Peyton Manning.

The Dolphins confirmed the news via Twitter:

Welcome to Miami, Adam Gase! #StrongerTogetherpic.twitter.com/scJQmpFbqJ

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) January 9, 2016

Gase met with the Dolphins for a second time on Saturday, and there was a report that they canceled at least one other interview, with New England Patriots' defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, indicating that they liked what they'd seen and heard from Gase.

Gase was a hot prospect on the market over the last several days, interviewing first with the Philadelphia Eagles, and also with the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants.

At 37, he becomes the youngest head coach in the NFL.

It's been a rapid ascent through the coaching ranks for Gase, a Michigan native and Michigan State grad who got his start in 2000 as a graduate assistant during Nick Saban's first year at Louisiana State. He has never been a head coach at any level.

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