ESPN insiders reveal Dolphins plan with Mike McDaniel amid winning streak originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Miami Dolphins are not in the best shape right now, sitting near the bottom of the AFC and the AFC East. But after rattling off three wins in their last four games, Miami is turning the corner.
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At 4-7, the Dolphins are still in the playoff race and are on a hot streak heading into their Week 12 bye. As a result of the Dolphins’ winning streak, which included a huge win over the Buffalo Bills, the job status of Mike McDaniel comes into question.
As ESPN insiders Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler report, the Dolphins’ plan with McDaniel might’ve changed in a big way after this small winning streak.
How Dolphins plan with Mike McDaniel might’ve changed
“The easy answer a few weeks ago would have been Mike McDaniel,” Graziano writes, “but he survived the firing of GM Chris Grier, and the Dolphins are playing hard for him. Do you get the sense McDaniel can still salvage his job?”
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“I do. I wouldn’t call it likely,” Fowler writes, “but in my mind, there’s a plausible scenario where he sticks in Miami.”
This exchange between Graziano and Fowler points to one thing: McDaniel’s future in Miami isn’t a certain thing. After the firing of Chris Grier, that’s a great result for McDaniel.
After Grier was fired, McDaniel was confirmed to be the head coach for the rest of the year, but his future beyond that was very much in doubt.
More: Why Mike McDaniel made bizarre fourth-down decision in Dolphins vs. Commanders
But now, these comments from Fowelr and Graziano point to the Dolphins’ plan changing due to how the team is playing. As Fowler described it, “The team is coming off back-to-back wins and the vibe seems to be good.”
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Miami is in a much better spot heading into their bye than they were heading into the Week 10 NFL trade deadline. Their wins over the Bills and Washington Commanders have begun the process of saving McDaniel’s job.
With how the Dolphins are locked into Tua Tagovailoa for at least 2026, and with the lack of great offensive coordinators available in this hiring cycle, the Dolphins might wind up keeping McDaniel for another year.
If he finishes the 2025 season strong, then his chances of returning would be even greater. But, based on his winning streak, the vibes with the team, and the circumstances of the team, McDaniel might have a safe job for at least one more season.
