The Miami Dolphins have announced that they are parting ways with head coach Mike McDaniel on Thursday following a 7-10 season.
“After careful evaluation and extensive discussions since the season ended, I have made the decision that our organization is in need of comprehensive change. I informed Mike McDaniel this morning that he has been relieved of his duties as head coach,” said Dolphins Chairman and Owner Stephen Ross. “I love Mike and want to thank him for his hard work, commitment, and the energy he brought to our organization. Mike is an incredibly creative football mind whose passion for the game and his players was evident every day. I wish him and his family the best moving forward.”
McDaniel was named as the 11th head coach in franchise history on February 7th, 2022, and put together a 35-33 record with two playoff appearances during his time with the club. As recently as Monday it appeared as though the 42 year old would remain with the organization, as the former coach told reporters he would be part of the team’s interview process to find a new general manager.
Conflicting reports out of Miami have been circulating over the last 24 hours with some outlets reporting that once Ravens coach John Harbaugh was fired, Miami changed their stance on retaining McDaniel. Others are saying that the decision came following a meeting between McDaniel and ownership on Tuesday which convinced the decision makers they needed to move in a new direction.
Whatever the case might be, the Dolphins will have a distinctively new look in 2026 with both a new head coach and General Manager in the organization. The club will also need to make a decision regarding the future of their quarterback position, as there appear to be some fences that need mending between management and Tua Tagavailoa.
Tagovailoa was benched in favour of rookie 7th round pick Quinn Ewers to finish the regular season. When asked if he was hopeful to get a fresh start somewhere else in 2026, Tua told reporters “That would be dope,” he said. “I would be good with it.”
Miami will now cast a wide net to fill their head coaching vacancy, including looking at collegiate options as well. The Dolphins have shown they aren’t afraid to give first time head coaches the reins in the past, with every hire dating back to Tony Sparano in 2008 being a first time NFL head coach.
Photo: Tennessee Titans. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.