Why are the Dolphins keeping Mike McDaniel?

Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season opened with a dominant display by two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. The team handed the Dolphins a 28-6 loss on ‘Thursday Night Football’ to drop Miami to 2-7 on the season.

The Dolphins didn’t take long to make changes after their loss in prime time. The franchise parted ways with general manager Chris Grier today after a decade in the position.

More moves in the future wouldn’t be surprising. Head coach Mike McDaniel is on pace for his worst performance since taking the job in 2022. Entering 2025, Miami had won more games over his first three years than the Los Angeles Rams or Tampa Bay Buccaneers and made the playoffs twice.

After last night’s loss, the postseason seems like a far-off dream barring one of the more miraculous turnarounds in NFL history.

It wouldn’t be unprecedented for the team to part ways with McDaniel. New Orleans fired coach Dennis Allen last season after he managed a 2-7 record through nine games – the same as McDaniel.

But McDaniel’s job is not immediately in danger; he will reportedly remain in his position through the rest of the season. Here’s why the team isn’t planning to fire him during the regular season.

Why are the Dolphins keeping Mike McDaniel?

McDaniel came to Miami with the reputation as an offensive mind after working under Kyle Shanahan for nearly a decade. McDaniel followed him along stops in Washington, Cleveland, Atlanta and finally San Francisco, where he was the team’s offensive coordinator in 2021.

McDaniel’s produced on offense when given the right chance. His first year in Miami saw the Dolphins finish 11th league-wide in points per game – their best result since 2014. In 2023, Miami was the league’s No. 2 scoring offense, a standing the franchise hadn’t reached since 1986.

McDaniel’s built one of the more consistently prolific offenses in the league in Miami despite missing starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for 10 games over the last three years. The majority of that time came last season when the team failed to hit 0.500 for the first time under McDaniel.

The Dolphins lost their top offensive weapon, Tyreek Hill, to a season-ending injury in Week 4. It’s not surprising the team isn’t performing as well on offense without him.

NFL analyst Ian Rapoport said prior to the ‘Thursday Night Football’ loss that McDaniel’s job status was ‘firmly up in the air.’

‘I do not sense anything imminent from owner Stephen Ross, who likes him, believes in him and has invested in him,’ Rapoport said. ‘But here is how McDaniel is going to be judged. How do the players respond? What is it like in the locker room? Do they keep playing for him, or do they not, and can you see it? That is going to determine whether he keeps his job.’

Given what he said about Ross’ belief in McDaniel, the franchise may opt to pin this underwhelming season on the fired Grier before putting McDaniel too firmly on the hot seat. McDaniel’s track record for productive offenses would likely make him a hot candidate for a coaching position elsewhere if the team parted ways with him.

Mike McDaniel stats, record

Here’s how the Dolphins have fared under McDaniel every year of his time in Miami:

2022

• Record: 9-8, 2nd in AFC East, lost in wild-card playoffs
• Offense:
  • Points per game: 11th
  • Yards per game: 6th
• Defense:
  • Points per game: 24th
  • Yards per game: 18th

2023

• Record: 11-6, 2nd in AFC East, lost in wild-card playoffs
• Offense:
  • Points per game: 2nd
  • Yards per game: 1st
• Defense:
  • Points per game: 22nd
  • Yards per game: 10th

2024

• Record: 8-9, 2nd in AFC East
• Offense:
  • Points per game: 22nd
  • Yards per game: 18th
• Defense:
  • Points per game: 10th
  • Yards per game: 4th

2025 (nine games)

• Record: 2-7, 3rd in AFC East
• Offense:
  • Points per game: 25th
  • Yards per game: 28th
• Defense:
  • Points per game: 27th
  • Yards per game: 23rd