Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel did everything in his power to save his job after a dismal 1-6 start to the season. He commandeered a four-game win streak, benched Tua Tagovailoa, and added new wrinkles to his dynamic rushing attack.
Ultimately, it wasn’t enough. McDaniel was fired on Thursday in the wake of Black Monday and the news that John Harbaugh was available. The Harbaugh hype has run rampant, but one insider suggests that McDaniel’s fate was sealed before the Baltimore Ravens pulled the trigger.
Mike McDaniel’s Exit Wasn’t About John Harbaugh
It is easy to connect the dots between Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and the Harbaugh family. Miami would likely give him a long leash, affording him the time to find his quarterback and build a program, much like his brother, Jim Harbaugh, did at Michigan (Ross’ alma mater).
However, there’s no guarantee that Harbaugh takes the Dolphins job, and Jeff Darlington reported that the decision to move off of McDaniel was not a matter of big-game hunting.
“I’m told the Dolphins have not yet been in touch with John Harbaugh or anyone in his camp, and people close to the decision are adamant this decision to move away from McDaniel is independent of Harbaugh’s availability,” Darlington wrote.
Rather, Miami acted out discontent. The Dolphins missed the playoffs in each of the last two years, falling under .500 in both seasons, and had not won a playoff game under McDaniel’s tutelage. The natural counter is to point to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who has struggled with concussions and ranked 27th in PFSN’s NFL QB Impact Metric this season. However, McDaniel cannot be divorced from the decision to extend his contract.
McDaniel’s tenure had been defined by hot starts that fizzled by December, inconsistent defensive performances, and a fragile offensive ecosystem. While a different quarterback may have altered those narratives, Miami lacks a clear path to a franchise quarterback, leaving McDaniel and Ross in a state of passing purgatory.
There’s a case to be made that any action is better than inaction. Next year’s team wouldn’t be a preseason favorite to make the playoffs, much less contend with the elite quarterbacks atop the AFC. That reality seemed to set the tone for Ross’ decision.
“Owner Steve Ross met with McDaniel on Tuesday, and the outcome of the meeting left Ross very conflicted,” Darlington added. “He really likes Mike — ‘loves his intelligence and offensive mind’ — but Tuesday’s meeting resulted in some hard thoughts. Ross didn’t feel like the results were there, and despite the end-of-year production, Ross simply wasn’t comfortable moving forward with the ‘status quo.’”
Harbaugh remains in play for the Dolphins. They could turn to Chad Alexander, a general manager with ties to the coach, in the coming days. Soft factors like Miami’s weather and Ross’s ability to outspend virtually any owner could help, too.
Still, the reaction to McDaniel’s firing has been speculation about what dynamic offense he could lead in 2026. Whether it’s a new job as head coach or calling plays for a star quarterback, the Dolphins will risk striking out as McDaniel becomes a heavy hitter in the coaching market. If they whiff on Harbaugh, it’s hard to see Miami finding a meaningful upgrade this cycle.
The Dolphins can claim that the decisions regarding McDaniel and Harbaugh aren’t related. Until they find a new reason for optimism, though, Miami will remain in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
