by: Daniel Hager 10 hours ago DanielHagerOn3
The Miami Dolphins have parted ways with head coach Mike McDaniel , the organization announced Thursday morning. Across four seasons, McDaniel led Miami to a 35-33 record and two postseason appearances (2022 & 2023).
McDaniel, hailed as one of the greatest offensive minds in the NFL, will likely latch on with another organization quickly.
ESPN Sources: Dolphins fired head coach Mike McDaniel.
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross met with McDaniel this week to discuss the season. After that meeting and reflection, Ross decided to move on. pic.twitter.com/tp9TnpGQ1l
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 8, 2026
“After careful evaluation and extensive discussions since the season ended, I have made the decision that our organization is in need of a comprehensive change,” Chairman and Owner Stephen M. Ross said in a statement. “I informed Mike McDaniel this morning that he has been relieved off is duties as head coach. I love Mike and want to thank him for his hard work, commitment, and the energy he brought to our organization. Mike is an incredible creative football mind whose passion for the game and his players was evident every day. I wish him and his family the best moving forward.”
McDaniel was named Miami’s new head coach, succeeding Brian Flores , prior to the 2022 season. He experienced immediate success, as he led the Dolphins to AFC Wild Card appearances in both 2022 and 2023. Both of those games, however, resulted in losses. The 2022 loss to the Buffalo Bills was a heartbreaking 34-31 defeat, but the 2023 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs was more thorough (26-7).
In the two seasons since its last postseason appearance, the Dolphins compiled a 15-19 record and finished second and third in the AFC East. It appeared as if Miami ranked among the worst teams in the NFL earlier this season, as the Dolphins lost six of their first seven games. They played much better down the final stretch, however, winning six of their final 10 games to finish at 7-10.