The situation has quickly changed for the Miami Dolphins and Mike McDaniel, who said on Monday that he is the head coach of the team until told otherwise. The Dolphins have fired him after four seasons and a 35-33 record.
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"After careful evaluation and extensive discussions after the season ended, I made the decision that our organization is in need of comprehensive change," owner Stephen Ross said in a Thursday statement. "I informed Mike McDaniel this morning that he has been relieved of his duties as head coach.
"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 games and his players was evident every day. I wish him and his family the best moving forward."
McDaniel, a former offensive coordinator for the 49ers, landed the Dolphins job at the start of the 2022 season. He guided the team to a 9-8 record and a playoff appearance. He then followed this up with an 11-6 season and a playoff appearance in 2023.
The early success did not last. The Dolphins went 15-19 over the past two seasons while missing the playoffs. The team dealt with multiple injuries to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receiver Tyreek Hill among others, and it struggled to win games when the temperature fell below 40 degrees.
The move takes place after the Ravens fired head coach John Harbaugh, ending an 18-year tenure and making him the most sought after coach in this season's hiring cycle. Several teams reportedly reached out to Harbaugh's agent within 45 minutes of him losing his job in Baltimore, including multiple without an apparent opening for a new head coach.
According to veteran sportswriter Barry Jackson, the Dolphins were not one of the seven teams who initially reached out to Harbaugh. However, Jackson later reported that the availability of the former Ravens coach played a role in the Dolphins deciding to fire McDaniel.
The Dolphins will face some potential hurdles if they pursue Harbaugh as reported, while simultaneously seeking a general manager to replace the fired Chris Grier. The AFC East team will face competition from other teams, which reportedly includes the Giants. The other teams currently seeking head coaches are the Titans, Browns, Cardinals, Raiders, and Falcons.
