The Miami Dolphins have had a rough start to their season. After losing to the Carolina Panthers, they are sitting with just a 1-4 record through Week 5. With the Panthers also entering the game with a 1-3 record, the Dolphins had an excellent opportunity to win their second-straight game.
Furthermore, midway through the second quarter, it looked like that would be the case, as Miami led 17-0. That said, the Dolphins let the Panthers come all the way back, making it a one-possession game entering the fourth quarter. With the continued lack of success and the loss of yet another winnable game, the Dolphins lack identity and could see some major changes soon.
Will Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel Be Fired by Mid-season If Struggles Continue?
According to a recent report by Sportskeeda, McDaniel has been on thin ice since their first loss of the season to the Indianapolis Colts. Now, after this poor stretch of games, the end of McDaniel’s career with Miami is “in sight,” and that “tensions are starting to boil over,” according to the same article.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: Dolphins’ Ownership is reportedly losing patience with HC Mike McDaniel and the end of his tenure in Miami could be soon, league sources told @TonyPauline pic.twitter.com/yfevUyaog1
— JPA (@jasrifootball) October 7, 2025
The article said that McDaniel has 2-3 games left to try to turn things around for the Dolphins, or else his job with them is likely done. While McDaniel is the same coach who led his team to score 70 points just a couple of seasons ago, he has struggled to see any consistent success.
Granted, Miami has been plagued by injuries recently, but this year has been a different story. Even before Hill’s injury, he struggled to get things going, as did the rest of the team.
Though this was the first game the Dolphins played without star wide receiver Tyreek Hill, it turned out to be Tua Tagovailoa’s statistically best game of the season. Tagovailoa passed for 256 yards and three touchdowns despite the loss, which is the most touchdowns he’s thrown this season.
Regardless of Tagovailoa’s success, McDaniel’s firing feels inevitable at this point, especially considering how he’s displayed himself to the media recently. The once upbeat and lively coach has been visibly down in recent press conferences, causing fans to be concerned for him.
Mike McDaniel had the sort of quirkiness that just made you wonder about what was really going on upstairs at times. It was thought of as cool and endearing when the Dolphins were winning. But I think there’s some real concern for him now.
pic.twitter.com/3iRBHp5Pts
— Chris Ball at Loveland Magazine Sports Desk (@LovelandSportsG) October 7, 2025
Even so, despite having one of the worst records in the league, the Dolphins have the 15th-highest graded offense in the NFL, according to PFSN’s Offense Impact, so it’s possible they’ll be able to turn things around. If they are unable to, however, it’s clear that a new coach will be leading Miami in a few weeks.