The Miami Dolphins had a really terrible 2025 NFL season, failing to go to the postseason. The Dolphins had a disappointing 7-10 record and were third in the AFC East division.
Fans are really angry with the franchise and are asking for change, with the Dolphins releasing some veterans and signing some new talents ahead of the next season. They have also taken a huge decision in the ownership structure of the franchise.
Miami Dolphins sell stake to Chinese billionaire
The Dolphins have reached a landmark decision about their ownership structure. They are set to sell a 1% stake of the franchise to Chinese billionaire Bin Lin, who is known as the co-founder and vice chairman of popular smartphone brand Xiaomi. The sale will be for a record $12.5 billion valuation, the highest for any minority interest in professional sports history.
Miami Dolphins logo
Oct 9, 2021; London, England, United Kingdom; A Miami Dolphins logo is seen at Tottenham Hogspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Confirmed by the franchise after first being reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the 1% stake will be a minority, non-controlling stake in the franchise. He will have no decision over the sporting aspect of the franchise and will not determine any team or franchise policy. However, he will also acquire Dolphins’ Chairman and owner Stephen Ross’s full portfolio of the franchise’s home venue Hard Rock Stadium, along with the Miami Open tennis tournament and the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix.
The sale has been approved by the NFL’s finance committee on March 31, 2026, with full owner approval expected in the coming days. The league has strict rules when it comes to foreign stakes in the ownership of any NFL team. Ross first purchased the franchise in 2009 for roughly $1 billion. He has signaled plans to pass ownership to his son-in-law Daniel Sillman.
However, many fans are not liking that a foreign person will be having a stake in one of the NFL’s teams, especially considering China is considered to be a geopolitical rival of the United States of America. Many voiced their displeasure at the deal.
Miami Dolphins face backlash after record sale
The franchise is facing a lot of backlash for selling a stake to the Chinese billionaire.
One user said, “I’m sure Trump’s thrilled that Ross sold stake to a chinese company. MAGA!”
A second user wrote, “NFL owners happily selling America’s game to Beijing while fans get price-gouged tickets. Congrats on the new CCP luxury box hope it comes with free spy tech.”
A third user replied, “What a surprise, Ross selling to China…”
Another added, “Write today’s date down. NFL, too big to fail? Ask all the English Premier league teams would happen when they started taking in foreign money.”
A fifth user remarked, “SOOOO the Chinese government bought into The NFL and other things…Got it”.
A sixth user commented, “What we have Chinese people now involved in this?”
The Miami Dolphins have some big plans with more work to be done ahead of the 2026 NFL season.