The Miami Dolphins fired head coach Mike McDaniel on Thursday, per ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter.
Schefter also shared a statement from Dolphins chairman and owner Stephen M. Ross on the McDaniel decision.
“After careful evaluation and extensive discussions since the season ended, I have made the decision that our organization is in need of comprehensive change,” Ross wrote. “I informed Mike McDaniel this morning that he has been relieved of his duties as head coach. 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.”
Hired as the Dolphins head coach in February 2022, McDaniel quickly turned the franchise around, posting a 9-8 record and playoff berth in his debut season (the team’s first since 2016).
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In 2023, Miami went 11-6 with the NFL’s top offense, earning another postseason spot. However, the Dolphins lost in the wild-card round both years (0-2 playoff record). Regression followed: an 8-9 finish in 2024 and a 7-10 mark in 2025, marked by a 1-6 start despite a midseason rally.
McDaniel ended his Dolphins tenure with a 35-33 regular-season record.
Featured image via Paul Rutherford/USA TODAY Sports Images
