Mike McDaniel’s seat is perhaps feeling a bit toasty after missing the playoffs last season and starting 0-2 this year, though to this point the Dolphins haven’t seemed inclined to make a change.
But as Ian Rapoport noted on Thursday, fans and players could potentially turn the heat way up on the entire situation
“Stehen Ross, the Dolphins’ owner, does not want to fire McDaniel. He doesn’t. He wants this to work. He likes him, he believes in him, he has invested in him. … My sense is nothing is imminent for the Dolphins on [potentially firing McDaniel],” he reported. “However, there’s a caveat. That can change. If fans suddenly stop showing up to the stadium, or if players stop playing for him, that can alter the situation.”
ESPN’s Peter Schrager also said he “doesn’t get the sense” that a Thursday night loss to the Buffalo Bills could be the undoing of McDaniel in Miami, though an 0-4 start could be:
The vibes around Miami haven’t been great, though there has been an active effort to change the culture. According to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques, “Since their disappointing 2024 season ended, the Dolphins—according to multiple current and former players, coaches and team officials—have sought to improve the culture inside their building. The team has reinforced the importance of accountability and jettisoned players who decision-makers in the organization believed weren’t conducive to the team’s success, while bringing in those they thought would buy in and put team over self.”
Granted, while the culture in the locker room is important, it’s ultimately the results on the field that matter, and the Dolphins have been poor to start the 2025 season. Miami has given up 33 points in two straight games, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has turned the ball over four times and Miami’s once-explosive offense has been inconsistent at best.
The Dolphins moved on from some talented players in the offseason, and perhaps an adjustment period was always inevitable. But how the team responds to such a difficult start will also be an indication of whether the intended culture shift has actually stuck.
It may also determine whether McDaniel still has a job. The 42-year-old led the Dolphins to the playoffs in his first two seasons but didn’t claim a playoff win, while Miami went 8-9 last year and missed the playoffs.
There were some mitigating factors, including Tagovailoa missing six games due to injuries. But the Dolphins were a disappointment in 2024, and they are trending that way again this season.
McDaniel has time to course correct, it would seem. But the rocks are approaching.
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