Mike McDaniel is entering a pivotal fourth season in Miami Gardens that could very well determine his job status with the Dolphins.
McDaniel has led Miami to a pair of NFL playoffs berths and to a 28-23 mark over the past three regular seasons. Along the way, the 42-year-old has produced some electrifying moments.
The Dolphins’ playoff berth in 2022 was the franchise’s first since 2016. Miami also boasted the league’s top total offense, the No. 1 passing offense, the No. 2 scoring offense and the NFL’s passing leader in Tua Tagovailoa (4,624 passing yards) during the 2023 season.
Star receiver Tyreek Hill notched back-to-back 1,700-yard receiving seasons in 2022 and 2023.
But, the Dolphins lost each of those two Wild Card appearances at the Buffalo Bills (34-31) and at the Kansas City Chiefs (26-7) to close out the 2022 and 2023 campaigns. Then, thanks in part to Tagovailoa’s injury absences, the Dolphins slumped to 8-9 and missed the playoffs altogether last season.
That means the heat is on McDaniel in 2025. With the fan base’s—and maybe the front office’s—patience beginning to wear thin, McDaniel finds himself among CBS’ 2025 NFL season head coach hot seat rankings. According to CBS, McDaniel has the second-hottest seat in the NFL.
Overall, the roster feels like it has plateaued, and impact pieces could still be stripped away before Week 1 rolls around, with cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith both being in the thick of trade rumors. McDaniel has produced high-flying offenses, but the inconsistent availability of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has hamstrung the franchise from reaching its full potential.
As the arrow looks to be pointing down for the Dolphins, the rest of the division is getting more competitive. Buffalo remains the top dog, while New England and New York hired new head coaches this offseason and made solid moves to improve their rosters. That makes the road that much more difficult for the Dolphins in 2025, and it would not be surprising if they finish in last place. If that comes to fruition, it could result in Miami starting over across the board. – Tyler Sullivan, CBS.
CBS predicted that McDaniel will ultimately be sent packing.
So much of McDaniel’s future seemingly lies in the health or lack thereof of Tagovailoa in 2025. If Tagovailoa can record his second full season of work, there’s plenty of reasons for optimism.
Tagovailoa still has Hill and Jaylen Waddle to work with alongside talented, rising dual-threat running back De’Von Achane. And, despite the fair critiques, McDaniel has shown he can concoct one of the league’s most explosive offenses.
Fortunes twist and turn in a hurry in the NFL, and maybe McDaniel can right the ship before it’s too late.
CBS’ full top five head coach hot seat rankings looked like this: Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott at No. 5, Indianapolis’ Shane Steichen at No. 4, Cincinnati’s Zac Taylor at No. 3, McDaniel at No. 2 and the New York Giants’ Brian Daboll at No. 1.
Only McDermott was expected to retain his post.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: CBS assigns hot seat to Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel, predicts job status
Reporting by Josh Helmer, Dolphins Wire / Dolphins Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
