Tag: McDaniel

May 11, 2026; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel watches during offseason workouts at The Bolt. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Chargers OC Mike McDaniel in NFL accelerator program

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel and Kansas City Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy are two of 34 coaches and executives scheduled to participate in the NFL’s revamped accelerator program, ESPN reported on Saturday.

The NFL began holding accelerator events at its spring meetings starting in 2022 after league officials perceived that owners were passing over highly qualified individuals of color for vacant positions. They did not hold the event in 2025, however.

Among the 16 coaches slated to participate is McDaniel, who served as the Miami Dolphins head coach from 2022-25.

McDaniel achieved back-to-back playoff appearances with the Dolphins in his first two seasons. Over four seasons there, McDaniel posted a 35-33 record in the regular season and an 0-2 record in the postseason.

Bieniemy, Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde and Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich are among those that have received head coaching interviews in recent years.

Eighteen executives also are scheduled to participate in the program, including Glenn Cook and Catherine Hickman (Cleveland Browns), James Liipfert (Houston Texans), Mike Bradway (Chiefs), Brandon Brown (New York Giants), Josh Williams (San Francisco 49ers), Mike Greenberg (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Lance Newmark (Washington Commanders).

–Field Level Media

Mike McDaniel hired as Chargers’ offensive coordinator

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was officially hired Monday as offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers.

McDaniel, 42, was also viewed as a candidate for the OC positions with Philadelphia and Tampa Bay and was under consideration for head-coaching vacancies with Baltimore and Las Vegas.

Joining Jim Harbaugh’s staff marks a return to California for McDaniel after a brief but notable tenure as San Francisco’s offensive coordinator before taking the top job in Miami in 2022.

He achieved back-to-back playoff appearances with the Dolphins in his first two seasons. Over four seasons there, McDaniel posted a 35-33 record in the regular season and an 0-2 record in the postseason.

The Chargers dismissed Greg Roman after a 16-3 wild-card loss at New England on Jan. 11. Los Angeles finished 12th in total offense (333.8 yards per game) and 20th in scoring (21.6 points) this season but once again struggled in the playoffs.

In two playoff games with Roman as offensive coordinator, the Chargers managed just one touchdown.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Philip Rivers to interview for Bills’ head-coaching job

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After coming out retirement to play three games at the quarterback position, Philip Rivers reportedly is throwing his hat toward one of the NFL’s vacant head-coaching jobs.

Multiple media outlets reported Rivers is interviewing for the Buffalo Bills’ opening on Friday.

Rivers is not alone. Former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel also is meeting with the Bills on Friday, per The Athletic, with the expectation that he will become the offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers if he is not hired for any of the league’s available top jobs.

Rivers, 44, has been the head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Ala., since he announced his initial retirement from the NFL after the 2020 season.

NFL Network reported Rivers and Buffalo star quarterback Josh Allen have a strong friendship. Bills owner Terry Pegula noted this week that Allen will be involved in the coaching search on the heels of Sean McDermott’s firing.

Rivers came out of retirement last month after the Indianapolis Colts lost starting quarterback Daniel Jones to a season-ending injury. He made three starts — all losses — and was quick to note that he was returning to coach at the Alabama school where his son, Gunner, will be the senior quarterback in the fall.

Rivers was a Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist prior to embarking on the comeback. His candidacy now resets and he will next be eligible for induction in 2031 due to the five-year waiting period after retirement.

He spent 16 seasons with the Chargers (13 in San Diego, three in Los Angeles) and one season (2020) with the Colts before his initial retirement.

Rivers ranks sixth all-time in passing TDs (425) and eighth in passing yards (63,984) in NFL history.

–Field Level Media

Browns interviewing Mike McDaniel on Monday

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Cleveland Browns are interviewing former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel about their coaching vacancy on Monday, the team announced.

McDaniel, who coached the Browns’ wide receivers in 2014, went 7-10 this season and posted a 35-33 record over four seasons with the Dolphins.

McDaniel, 42, led Miami to the playoffs in 2022 and 2023. He was an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers from 2017-21, spending the last year as offensive coordinator.

Cleveland fired two-time NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski last week after he compiled a 45-56 record over six seasons and led the Browns to the playoffs twice.

McDaniel is the sixth candidate to interview for the job in Cleveland, which was a combined 8-26 over the past two seasons under Stefanski.

The Browns interviewed their offensive coordinator, Tommy Rees, and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, along with Baltimore Ravens OC Todd Monken, Cincinnati Bengals OC Dan Pitcher and Seattle Seahawks DC Aden Durde. They also reportedly requested a meeting with Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase.

–Field Level Media

Tua Tagovailoa: ‘I would be good with’ fresh start in ‘26

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tua Tagovailoa signaled he would be open to move on from the Miami Dolphins as the players cleaned out their lockers Monday, and coach Mike McDaniel said he will meet with Tagovailoa on Tuesday morning to discuss how to move forward.

Tagovailoa, who was benched after Week 15 in favor of rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, hadn’t previously indicated whether he believed he had played his last game for the franchise that drafted him fifth overall in 2020.

Reporters asked Tagovailoa Monday if he was hoping for a fresh start next season. The quarterback simply responded, “That would be dope. I would be good with it.”

Tagovailoa, 27, added that he understood the question was about playing elsewhere. He declined to share more.

The six-year NFL veteran said he was disappointed when McDaniel benched him in mid-December but did not elaborate further. He was benched less than a year and a half after inking a four-year, $212.5 million contract extension with the team, guaranteeing him $167 million.

The Dolphins fired Chris Grier, the general manager who signed him to that deal, in October. Tagovailoa is guaranteed $54 million in 2026, which could affect the Dolphins’ decision-making process.

Tagovailoa threw for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns and a career-high 15 interceptions in 14 games (all starts) this season. He went 6-8 as a starter and the Dolphins slipped out of the playoff race before finishing 7-10.

McDaniel told reporters his meeting with Tagovailoa was planned for Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. He also pointed to the moving piece of the front office needing a new leader.

“I don’t think anybody quite understands what it’d be like to be through the ringer of a year that he’s had. So to remove emotions, to have a conversation will be very healthy. And beyond that, we’re still in the process of having a GM hired.”

–Field Level Media

Mike McDaniel on hold, but playing role in Dolphins GM talks

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Mike McDaniel anticipates coaching the Miami Dolphins for a fifth season in 2025 and is involved in discussions regarding the franchise search for a new general manager.

McDaniel said Monday that he plans to continue operating as head coach of the Dolphins unless he’s told otherwise, but pointed to signals indicating owner Stephen Ross might have already decided to keep him around. McDaniel said he’s “happy to support” internal discussions around the next general manager but does not believe it’s his decision to make.

In the meantime, Ross and McDaniel agreed to meet later in the week after they had a conversation in the past 24 hours.

“The bottom line is our product needs to be better,” McDaniel said. “We can’t just hope, we have to create change.”

With a 35-33 record in four seasons, McDaniel posted a second consecutive losing season in 2025 and general manager Chris Grier didn’t make it to the finish line. The Dolphins ended the season 7-10 but started 1-6.

“I’ll just flat out say it: The season was a failure,” McDaniel said. “The organization is depending on me to take a hard look at everything.”

Aspects of the team structure are in flux and context from the GM search might be vital when the organization closely examines the key characters in the Dolphins’ next act. If McDaniel says, he vowed on Monday to have competition at quarterback. Rookie Quinn Ewers was elevated to the starting spot last month, casting further doubt about the future of Tua Tagovailoa.

McDaniel said he’s scheduled to sit down for a “healthy conversation” with Tagovailoa on Tuesday.

Tagovailoa threw 15 interceptions and was sacked 30 times before McDaniel made the switch to Ewers. Tagovailoa was 6-8 in starting the first 14 games and completed 67.7% of his passes for 2,660 yards and 20 touchdowns in his sixth season with the Dolphins.

Asked by local reporters if he would welcome a fresh start elsewhere, Tagovailoa, 27, voiced interest in relocating.

“That would be dope,” he said. “I would be good with it.”

McDaniel

Dolphins coach on potential QB change: ‘Everything is on the table’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters Tuesday that he’s considering a quarterback change from traditional starter Tua Tagovailoa.

McDaniel’s comments came one day after the Dolphins (6-8) were eliminated from playoff contention with a 28-15 setback to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“The quarterback play last night was not good enough,” McDaniel said. “So for me, everything is on the table.”

Tagovailoa, 27, completed 6 of 10 passes for 65 yards while throwing his NFL-leading 15th interception through the first three quarters of Monday’s game. He finished 22 of 28 for 253 yards with a pair of late touchdowns to tight end Darren Waller.

Tagovailoa has thrown for 2,660 yards and 20 touchdowns this season for the Dolphins, who host the Cincinnati Bengals (4-10) on Sunday.

Zach Wilson and rookie Quinn Ewers have seen limited work this season. The former completed 6 of 9 passes for 32 yards in three games, while the latter is 5-for-8 for 53 yards in one game.

McDaniel said he is “trying to determine who gives us the best chance to win.” He also noted that he will have a decision on Wednesday as to who will start Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) looks on from the field against the Los Angeles Chargers during the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Mike McDaniel: ‘Wrong forum’ for Dolphins QB to call out teammates

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel considered quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s criticism Sunday of teammates for tardiness and attendance to meetings “misguided.”

Shortly after Miami dropped a 29-27 decision to the Chargers at home, Tagovailoa called for accountability from teammates he said were late to players-only meetings. The Dolphins are 1-5 after missing the playoffs last season.

“I’ve got a lot of things to worry about and one of them is not those comments and where our team is lying after that,” McDaniel said. “We’ve just had meetings about the (Chargers) game itself, the factual successes and failures that led to the ultimate result and that’s where people’s focus needs to be. We are all very motivated to fix our problems and find a way to win.”

McDaniel said Tagovailoa addressed the team and will “live and learn” from using the postgame press conference to deliver a message to teammates.

“I think regardless of intent and what was on Tua’s mind after a loss, as the franchise quarterback that’s not the forum to displace that — I think he knows that,” McDaniel said Monday. “Now, I do honestly believe there was no ill intention, but you’re talking about, I think, a misguided representation of player-orchestrated film sessions. The bottom line is no one’s going to be happy and always are looking for reasons for failure to succeed. So you’re trying to look for reasons that you can attribute to losses and heavy is the crown of being a franchise quarterback.”

Tagovailoa, 27, said Sunday the accumulation of losses can only be reversed if “leadership” makes clear what’s expected of players.

“Well, I think it starts with the leadership in helping articulate that for the guys, and then what we’re expecting out of the guys,” he said Sunday. “We’re expecting this. Are we getting that? Are we not getting that? We have guys showing up to player-only meetings late. Guys not showing up to player-only meetings. There is a lot that goes into that. Do we have to make that mandatory? Do we not have to make that mandatory? So it’s a lot of things of that nature that we got to get cleaned up. It starts with the little things like that.”

The Dolphins visit the Cleveland Browns (1-5) on Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright (25) breaks free for a big gain in the third quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Dolphins won’t have K Jason Sanders, RB Jaylen Wright Week 1

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright won’t be on the field for Week 1 and Miami is also shopping for a kicker with Jason Sanders hurt, coach Mike McDaniel said Monday.

ESPN reported Sanders could miss 4-5 weeks with a hip injury.

Wright has a leg injury and could return soon after the Dolphins begin the regular season at Indianapolis, McDaniel said, which makes sixth-round rookie Ollie Gordon II the likely backup to De’Von Achane to start the regular season.

Gordon led the Dolphins in rushing in the preseason with 126 yards on 26 carries. Wright had 13 carries for 19 yards. He was third on the team with 68 carries for 249 yards in 2024.

Punter Jake Bailey handled kickoff and field goal duties on Saturday when Sanders returned to the locker room and wasn’t available in the preseason finale against the Jaguars.

Sanders will not need surgery, McDaniel said. He added the Dolphins plan to host tryouts for veteran kickers this week.

Bailey’s 51-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter fell well short.

Sanders made 37 of 41 field-goal attempts last season. He drilled 27 consecutive FGs to end the season and finished eighth in the NFL with 137 points.

A return date isn’t clear for Sanders. A seventh-round pick in 2018, Sanders has never missed a game in his NFL career, playing only for the Dolphins.

–Field Level Media

Jul 23, 2025; Latrobe, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey talks to the media at Saint Vincent College. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Jalen Ramsey pleased in Pittsburgh, where there’s ‘respect for the head coach’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Without naming names, Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey instead pointed fingers while discussing the reasons he asked the Miami Dolphins for a trade in the offseason.

Ramsey was dealt to Pittsburgh in a swap that sent Minkah Fitzpatrick back to Miami and told The Pivot podcast he was appreciative of the front office for “working with me” and agent David Mulugheta.

Still, the 30-year-old made clear he wanted to be traded for the third time since the Jaguars selected him No. 5 overall in 2016.

Without saying the name of Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, Ramsey implied coaching and culture were key factors.

“Let’s go to a team that’s going to be able to compete, where there’s a lot of respect for the head coach and the staff and a place I can continue to play at a high level … and maybe be versatile,” Ramsey said in the interview.

“We all had to come to a consensus on what it would be. The Steelers wanted me here, and I wanted to be here.”

Ramsey, acquired by the Dolphins from the Los Angeles Rams in March of 2023, said he was thankful Miami didn’t take the approach of presenting him with a deal he didn’t want by saying, “this team called and we are going to send you there. It was very open communication. You all have been good to us. I’ve been good to y’all.”

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has heaped praise on Ramsey for his effort and versatility, and former Pittsburgh defensive back Ryan Clark gushed about the pairing with visions of a defensive scheme capable of using Ramsey at four or five different positions in a game.

Ramsey said he finds himself wondering what his NFL life might have been like had the Steelers drafted him.

“My focus may have been a little bit different at times. I may have been here my whole career,” Ramsey told The Pivot. “This is like a place where I feel like, one, they take care of their own. I truly believe that they take care of their own. Two, guys really want to be here.”

–Field Level Media