Miami Dolphins fire Mike McDaniel after four seasons as head coach

The Miami Dolphins have fired head coach Mike McDaniel after they missed the NFL playoffs for the second straight season.

Miami announced McDaniel’s dismissal on Thursday, with owner Stephen Ross saying he came to the decision following “careful evaluation and extensive discussions” since the end of a 7-10 season for the Dolphins.

McDaniel was hired in 2022 having gained a strong reputation as a talented offensive mind working on the offensive staff for San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.

His star continued to rise as the Dolphins reached the playoffs in each of his first two seasons at the helm, though they lost in the Wild Card Round in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

But injuries and the inconsistent play of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa hindered the Dolphins in 2024, with McDaniel coming under increasing criticism as Miami finished 8-9 and missed the playoffs.

There was no improvement this season, with Miami going 1-6 through the first seven games before recovering somewhat. The Dolphins were eliminated from the playoffs with a defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15.

The firing of general manager Chris Grier on October 31 indicated that the Dolphins were heading to a complete rebuild. Grier had been the GM since 2016 but a series of poor personnel decisions on his part left the Dolphins ill-equipped to truly contend in the AFC.

And the Dolphins have now decided to change their structure completely by removing McDaniel from his post.

“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 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.”

Harbaugh a likely candidate for Dolphins

The Dolphins will now begin their search for a head coach who can end their wait for a first playoff win since the 2000 season. Following his surprising firing by the Baltimore Ravens after 18 seasons this week, Jim Harbaugh is likely to be considered among the frontrunners for the position.

McDaniel, meanwhile, figures to be a popular name among teams looking for an offensive coordinator.

Reflecting on his time in Miami, McDaniel said: “Coaching this team and being a part of this great franchise has been the honour of a lifetime.

“When I took this job, I had a vision of a team that was bonded together and played with passion and energy on the path to winning championships. I gave everything I had for that goal.

“I am disappointed, especially for the fans, that we did not have better results on the field, but I am grateful for every coach, player, and staff member who poured themselves into that vision alongside me.

“I’m grateful to Stephen Ross for the opportunity he gave me, a little known coach at the time when he hired me. Most of all I’m thankful to my wife Katie and daughter Ayla for their unending love and support. I love this game, the people and relationships that are a part of it, and I will forever cherish my time in Miami.”