Dolphins fire McDaniel after 4 seasons
The Miami Dolphins dismissed head coach Mike McDaniel, the team announced Thursday.
The 42-year-old leaves the team with a 35-33 record across four seasons, including a 7-10 mark in 2025.
"After careful evaluation and extensive discussions since the season ended, I have made the decision that our organization is in need of comprehensive change," Dolphins owner Stephen M. Ross said in a statement.
Miami made consecutive playoff appearances in McDaniel's first two years in town but didn't win any postseason games.
Although the Dolphins once had one of the NFL's most dynamic offenses under McDaniel's watch, they regressed on that side of the ball in recent years. They ranked 25th in points scored this season, down from second in 2023.
Miami's next sideline boss will inherit a team with a major question at quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa recently said a fresh start elsewhere would be "dope" after he was benched in the regular season's final stretch. He signed a four-year, $212.4-million extension with the club in 2024. Moving on from him would result in a $99.2-million dead cap hit.
John Harbaugh was linked to the Dolphins earlier this week after the Baltimore Ravens fired him, but Miami didn't make any contact with him before moving on from McDaniel, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The Detroit Lions have reached out to McDaniel about their offensive coordinator job, which became vacant after Dan Campbell recently fired John Morton, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Campbell took Morton's play-calling duties midway through the 2025 season, but the Lions missed the playoffs.
With McDaniel's dismissal, the league now has eight head coaching jobs open. Two vacancies also remain for general manager, including one with the Dolphins, who fired Chris Grier midway through the regular season.
Miami plans to hire a new GM at some point this week before kicking off its search for McDaniel's replacement, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Los Angeles Chargers assistant general manager Chad Alexander, Green Bay Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan, longtime San Francisco 49ers scout Josh Williams, and Dolphins interim general manager Champ Kelly are reportedly the finalists for Miami's GM vacancy.