Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel began the year on the hot seat and was the favorite to be the first man fired after a 1-6 start to the season. The weeks since have seen McDaniel coach for his job and succeed, keeping the Dolphins in the hunt until Week 15.
McDaniel survived Black Monday, but as Miami searches for its next general manager, it’s possible that John Harbaugh’s dismissal could change the Dolphins’ tune.
Miami Dolphins Could Ditch Mike McDaniel for John Harbaugh
The writing was on the wall for Harbaugh after his Baltimore Ravens fell heartbreakingly short of playoff contention. That didn’t make it any less jarring to get the notification that he had been dismissed as the head coach after 18 seasons.
Harbaugh is the biggest name on the open market, and it immediately became clear that teams that haven’t fired their head coach would consider doing so for the 2012 Super Bowl champion.
Pencil Miami in as one of those potential landing spots.
The Dolphins decided not to fire McDaniel, instead dismissing long-time general manager Chris Grier. However, owner Stephen Ross, a Michigan alumnus, is no stranger to splash moves. His connection to Harbaugh’s brother, Jim, who coached Michigan to a national title, could move the needle.
In a recent mailbag, Albert Breer discussed the rumor that the Dolphins could foreshadow a Harbaugh hiring with their next general manager.
“Stephen Ross has a relationship with the family, and mulled, at one time, making a hard run at Harbaugh when he was negotiating a new contract in Baltimore,” Breer wrote. “His deal got done with the Ravens, so nothing came of it, but it was another sign of Ross’s affection for the Harbaugh family (he also made a much-publicized run at Jim in 2011).”
Despite having superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson for most of the season, Baltimore only finished a game better than Miami in 2025 (8-9). It was a disappointment by any measure, amplified by the brutal ending of Week 18’s festivities. By PFSN’s NFL Offense Metric, the Dolphins ranked No. 19, one spot ahead of the Ravens. On the other side of the ball, Baltimore ranked No. 18, compared to Miami’s No. 27.
Harbaugh’s reputation precedes him as a culture-builder who has won meaningful January games as a special teams maestro and CEO-type coach. His coaching tree includes successful coaches like Mike Macdonald and Rex Ryan. There’s enough justification for Miami to pivot from McDaniel to Harbaugh, a transition that would be made easier if the general manager had ties to the latter.
MORE: John Harbaugh Landing Spots: 4 Teams That Should Pursue the Super Bowl Champion After Ravens Exit
“But the one interesting twist here: The Dolphins put in interview requests for their first six GM candidates on Monday, all of whom have connections to Mike McDaniel, in one way or another. Then, Tuesday morning, they sent the Chargers a request to interview their assistant GM, Chad Alexander, who was with Harbaugh for 11 years, and spent the past two with Jim,” he added.
“Why did the Dolphins wait the extra day to send that one? Did they have an inkling that the landscape might be about to change? It’s interesting, at the very least.”
McDaniel has stated that he will act as the head coach until he’s told otherwise. Alexander’s interview suggests that a pink slip could be on the way. For a team searching for synergy between head coach and general manager, hiring Alexander would signal to Harbaugh that the Dolphins are open for business, regardless of McDaniel’s status.
As things stand, Harbaugh is expected to watch the early rounds of the playoffs in case a desirable position opens up on a Super Bowl contender. That gives Ross more time to refine his pitch and make the kind of move that’s been looming since the NFL intervened in his plot for Sean Payton.
There’s no frontrunner for Harbaugh’s services just yet, but Miami’s front office maneuvers could prove to be telling in this coaching cycle.
