The Miami Dolphins are still in the running for the AFC playoffs thanks to their recent surge. To maintain his job, head coach Mike McDaniel may need to keep the Dolphins in the running until the end of the season.
When ESPN’s Dan Graziano talked about “potential surprise” head coaching firings following the 2024 season on December 11, he hinted that this might be the case.
“This is not something that will or should happen, but rather outside conjecture from people I’m talking to around the league,” Graziano wrote. Even though Mike McDaniel signed an extension in August, some are keeping an eye on Miami and question whether anything will change if this season ends poorly.
On August 30, ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques announced that McDaniel and the Dolphins have agreed to a three-year contract extension. McDaniel is committed through the 2028 season with the extension and his first 4-year contract from 2022.
In his first two seasons, McDaniel guided the Dolphins to a 20–14 record. With four games left in the season, Miami is 6-7.
The Reasons Mike McDaniel Will Probably Return to the Dolphins
Graziano contended that McDaniel’s future will be impacted by the Dolphins’ season-ending performance. However, it would be shocking if the 41-year-old head coach didn’t return unless everything just fell apart.
The Dolphins were among the top 11 offences in terms of yards and points scored in 2022 and 2023 with McDaniel. They finished second in points and first in yards per game the previous season.
Although Miami hasn’t performed as well in those areas this season, Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterback, missed four games due to a concussion.
The Dolphins have a 24-15 record in three seasons under McDaniel when Tagovailoa begins. Additionally, Tagovailoa has become one of the league’s top quarterbacks under McDaniel’s guidance.
This season, the 26-year-old signal caller has the highest completion percentage in the NFL (73.8%). He also averages 7.6 yards per pass and has 17 touchdowns against just 4 interceptions.
It’s difficult to picture the Dolphins willing to let go of McDaniel this offseason given the head coach and quarterback’s chemistry. The Dolphins will play three losing teams in the final four games, but a poor finish can always turn things around.
Apathy of Dolphins’ McDaniel
Despite McDaniel’s strong three-year performance, analysts are hoping the Dolphins to advance. The Miami head coach will receive more criticism the longer that takes to occur.
That has already started.
In an interview with Marlon Humphrey on the Punch Line Podcast, former Dolphins safety DeShon Elliott described McDaniel’s squad as “soft as [expletive].”
Regarding the Dolphins’ performance against the Green Bay Packers in Week 13, current linebacker Jordyn Brooks expressed a similar opinion.
After losing to the Packers, Brooks told the media, “I felt like we let the elements control the way that we played,” according to FinsXtra. “I believed we were docile. It’s as easy as that.
Miami had lost in Green Bay for the eleventh consecutive time when the starting temperature was lower than 40 degrees.
The Dolphins have also been a bad running club over the last few weeks. Over the last five games, McDaniel’s offence has averaged 2.8 yards per carry and 59.4 rushing yards.
Playing poorly in cold weather and failing to launch a ground attack point to a lack of both mental and physical resilience.
If the Dolphins don’t challenge for a postseason berth, those stories may become more prevalent by the conclusion of the season. In the last two weeks of the season, they will travel to see the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns.
Both are expected to play in temperatures below 40 degrees.
McDaniel’s coaching seat might get quite warm if the Dolphins lose all of those games (against teams that have nothing to lose but draft position).
