Dave Wannstedt wouldn't say whether he wants Dan Marino back with the Dolphins.

The 22-year relationship might soon be severed. Wannstedt declined to say Sunday whether he wants Marino back next season.

"It's a very sensitive area. It's a very sensitive issue," Wannstedt said. "We're going to do the right thing."

Marino, 38, is considering retirement, although after Saturday's 62-7 playoff loss at Jacksonville, he sounded like he wanted to play another season.

"I still feel like I can win games in this league," Marino said. "I've proven that and will continue to do that. So we'll see."

The Dolphins' coaching change increases the likelihood that Marino will return, because Jimmy Johnson wasn't expected to want him back. Johnson retired Sunday and was replaced by Wannstedt, his assistant head coach.

Wannstedt, 47, signed a three-year contract as the fourth coach in Dolphins history. He went 40-56 in six seasons with the Chicago Bears before being fired in 1998, then joined the Dolphins' staff.

Wannstedt was also an assistant to Johnson with the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Hurricanes.

"This is a fantastic coach," Johnson said. "People are going to find out how great a coach he is. He's a better coach than I am."

A decision regarding Marino is just the toughest of many Wannstedt faces this offseason. They'll likely meet in the next couple of weeks, Wannstedt said.

"I don't know where Dan's mind is right now," he said. "I want to talk to him about which direction he feels he wants to go."

The quarterback situation aside, Wannstedt pledged a shakeup of an offense that ranked 20th in the NFL last year. His first act was to fire three assistants -- offensive coordinator Kippy Brown, offensive line coach Rich McGeorge and quarterbacks coach Larry Seiple.

Wannstedt wants to hire someone to oversee the personnel and scouting departments, and he'll receive help from Johnson with drafting and free agency. Personnel decisions were considered Wannstedt's downfall in Chicago.

"The thing that excites Dave is he has support here with personnel he didn't have in Chicago," Dolphins president Eddie Jones said. "There he was trying to do it all, and you can't do it all."

"That was the thing that got me in trouble," Wannstedt admitted.

Johnson is no longer under contract but has agreed to help, and Wannstedt said he'll seek advice from his longtime friend.

"We're going to call him," Wannstedt said. "We're not going to let him lay around down in the Keys and gain 20 pounds."