The Mike McDaniel era is over in Miami.
The Dolphins fired their fourth-year coach on Thursday following a 7-10 campaign that did not include a playoff berth for the second straight season, the team announced.
“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,” Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said in a statement.
“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.”
The team’s decision to move on from McDaniel came two days after the Ravens’ shocking split from head coach John Harbaugh following 18 seasons at the helm. It had been reported that Miami was “in touch” regarding the Super Bowl-winning coach.
“Coaching this team and being a part of this great franchise has been the honor of a lifetime,” McDaniel said in a statement. “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.”
Questions about McDaniel’s future in Miami had been percolating throughout the year.
Entering the 2025 season with a retooled roster, the Dolphins dropped three straight games and lost mercurial wide receiver Tyreek Hill to a season-ending leg injury in Week 4.
Things only got messier for the Dolphins with star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa publicly calling out his teammates, a move he subsequently apologized for.
The team capped off a turbulent October with the firing of longtime GM Chris Grier.
Although Miami stacked four straight wins in the aftermath, Tagovailoa was benched after an ugly “Monday Night Football” loss to the Steelers in Week 15.
The Dolphins turned to rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers over ex-Jet Zach Wilson.
Tagovailoa, 27, recently expressed he’s hopeful for a fresh start elsewhere.
McDaniel, 42, got off to a hot start in Miami, with the former 49ers offensive coordinator posting back-to-back winning records in his first two years. The Dolphins reached the wild-card round of the playoffs both times but were eliminated.
Things started to slide in 2024, when Miami finished that season at 8-9.
The Dolphins join the Giants, Titans, Browns, Raiders, Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens as the eight teams with head coaching vacancies.
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