Sportsnaut
It’s been a nightmare season for Mike McDaniel and the Miami Dolphins, one that could cost the head coach his job. Speculation continues building that McDaniel could be the next coach fired, but if he is, where will he end up? A top NFL insider predicts McDaniel could land a coordinator position with two playoff teams.
Prior to becoming the Dolphins’ head coach before the 2022 season, he was the offensive coordinator for Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers and finished third in total yards and 12th in points. However, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer doesn’t believe McDaniel would end up back in San Francisco if he’s let go by the Dolphins.
“But I don’t think things were perfect at the end there, so I’d actually see McDaniel landing with the Rams or Packers as more likely, though in those cases, you have established, respected coordinators,” Breer reports.
He continued: “There’s also the possibility that he looks outside his own football family and goes to work in a place where he’d just be handed the keys to the offense and allowed to make it his own show. This is, of course, putting the cart before the horse, but if the Dolphins do decide to move on, McDaniel should have options.”
The Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers are currently set at offensive coordinator with Mike LaFleur and Adam Stenavich, respectively, and it’s hard to imagine those franchises would part with those coaches to bring McDaniel onboard. But if one of them lands a head coaching job, McDaniel could become an option to fill the OC role.
Another team that could potentially need a new offensive coordinator after the season is the Philadelphia Eagles, as the offense has struggled under Kevin Patullo.
McDaniel led the Dolphins to the playoffs his first two seasons at the helm but the team has declined since. They finished 8-9 in 2024 and are even worse this year. Miami’s offense ranks 27th in total yards (279.0) and 25th in points (20.0) per game.
McDaniel’s future in Miami appears increasingly uncertain, and it remains to be seen if he will be let go before the season ends. If he does get fired, he should be able to find a coordinator position in 2026.
More must-reads:
