The Miami Dolphins have parted ways with head coach Mike McDaniel, the club confirmed on Thursday, following a second straight season that ended without a playoff berth.
End of an Era After Playoff Failures
Owner Stephen Ross announced the decision, stating it followed careful evaluation and extensive discussions after the 2024 campaign concluded. "I have made the decision that our organisation is in need of comprehensive change," Ross said in an official statement. He expressed personal affection for McDaniel, thanking him for his "hard work, commitment, and the energy he brought" and praised his creative football mind.
The move brings an end to McDaniel's tenure, during which he compiled a 35-33 record over three seasons. While he guided the Dolphins to the postseason in his first two years (2022 and 2023), the team suffered first-round exits on both occasions. The failure to secure a playoff victory extended the franchise's notorious drought to 25 years, the longest active streak in the NFL.
A Season of Disappointment and Disarray
The 2024 season proved particularly damaging. Miami's postseason hopes were mathematically ended with a Week 15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The campaign concluded with a whimper, being eliminated by the New York Jets in the regular-season finale. A significant point of controversy was the benching of former first-round quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, which highlighted a disjointed finish and appeared to be the final straw for Ross.
The organisation had already begun a front-office overhaul, parting ways with long-time general manager Chris Grier at the end of October. McDaniel had, somewhat surprisingly, indicated on Monday that he was involved in the search for Grier's replacement, making his dismissal just days later a notable turn of events.
From Promise to Stagnation
When appointed in 2022 at age 38, the Yale-educated McDaniel was hailed as part of a new wave of innovative, young coaches. His success as the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers translated initially to Miami, where he revitalised a struggling attack. The Dolphins' offense ranked sixth in the league in his first season and first overall in his second.
However, that offensive momentum stalled dramatically. Tagovailoa struggled with form and injuries, and the unit failed to maintain its elite production. The quarterback's recent comments added fuel to the fire of organisational change; on Monday, Tagovailoa said he "would be good with" playing for a new team next season, remarking, "That would be dope."
The search now begins in earnest for both a new head coach and a new general manager as Stephen Ross seeks the "comprehensive change" he believes is necessary to end the Dolphins' long-standing playoff victory famine.
