Tag: Mike McDaniel

Report: Mike McDaniel withdraws from Browns’ coaching search

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Mike McDaniel has taken himself out of the running in Cleveland.

The former Miami Dolphins head coach informed the Browns he’s withdrawing from their search ahead of a planned in-person interview on Wednesday, according to an NFL Network report.

Cleveland has already conducted second interviews with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and Rams passing-game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. With McDaniel stepping aside, the Browns’ focus tightens on those candidates as they weigh scheme fit and staff construction.

McDaniel’s calendar remains busy elsewhere. He interviewed with the Los Angeles Chargers on Tuesday for their offensive coordinator role and has additional OC offers on the table, according to reports. He also remains in consideration for head-coaching vacancies with the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders.

The move seems to signify a strategic reset for McDaniel. After a brief but notable tenure as San Francisco’s offensive coordinator before taking the head coach position in Miami in 2022, he achieved back-to-back playoff appearances with the Dolphins. Over four seasons there, he posted a 35-33 record in the regular season and a 0-2 record in the postseason. Now 42, he appears open to leading another offense.

The Chargers’ interest comes after they dismissed Greg Roman following a wild-card loss, creating a high-profile OC opening. Whether McDaniel returns to a coordinator seat or lands one of the remaining head-coaching jobs, his decision narrows Cleveland’s options while keeping his own pathway flexible.

–Field Level Media

Report: Mike McDaniel meeting with Raiders on Monday

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Up next for popular coaching candidate Mike McDaniel is an interview with the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday in Miami, NFL Network reported Saturday.

Since being fired by the Dolphins on Jan. 8, McDaniel has interviewed for the head coaching vacancies in Atlanta, Cleveland, Baltimore and Tennessee. He also was scheduled to meet with Detroit about its offensive coordinator opening.

The Raiders, who parted ways with Pete Carroll after a 3-14 season, hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and are in position to grab Heisman Trophy-winning Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

McDaniel, 42, posted a 35-33 record over four seasons in Miami, including a 7-10 record this season. He led the Dolphins to the playoffs in 2022 and 2023.

McDaniel was an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers from 2017-21, the last year as offensive coordinator. He previously worked as wide receivers coach with the Browns (2014) and as an offensive assistant with the Falcons (2015-16).

–Field Level Media

Reports: Browns to interview Mike McDaniel for HC job

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Fired as head coach of the Miami Dolphins on Thursday, Mike McDaniel will interview for the same position with the Cleveland Browns on Monday, multiple media outlets reported on Sunday.

McDaniel, 42, went 7-10 this season and posted a 35-33 record over four seasons, which included a pair of postseason appearances in his first two years with Miami. He signed a three-year contract extension in August 2024.

McDaniel — the Browns’ wide receivers coach in 2014 — will be Cleveland’s lone head coach interview on Monday and the sixth overall. Two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski was dismissed last Monday after posting a 45-56 record over six seasons and leading the Browns to the playoffs twice.

The Browns have interviewed their offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, along with Baltimore Ravens OC Todd Monken, Seattle Seahawks DC Aden Durde and Cincinnati Bengals OC Dan Pitcher.

They’ve also reportedly requested an interview with Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhause.

–Field Level Media

Dolphins fire head coach Mike McDaniel after 7-10 season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Miami Dolphins fired head coach Mike McDaniel on Thursday morning after four seasons.

The Dolphins started the 2025 season with six losses in seven games, fired general manager Chris Grier in October and owner Stephen Ross opted to delay a decision on McDaniel until after the season.

Miami finished with a 7-10 record.

McDaniel, 42, posted a 35-33 record with a pair of postseason appearances in his first two years with the team. He signed a three-year contract extension in August 2024.

The firing of McDaniel is the eighth NFL coaching change since the conclusion of the regular season.

Per ESPN, the Dolphins have yet to contact former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh about the position. Ross has ties to the Harbaugh family.

Ross met with McDaniel earlier this week to discuss the season before making his decision on Thursday.

“After careful evaluation and extensive discussions since the season ended, I have made the decision that our organization is in need of comprehensive change,” Ross said in a statement.

“I love Mike and want to thank him for his hard work, commitment, and the energy he brought to our organization. Mike is an incredibly 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.”

–Field Level Media

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

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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

Reports: Dolphins bench Tua Tagovailoa, to start rookie QB Quinn Ewers

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Miami Dolphins are benching quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and will start rookie Quinn Ewers on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to multiple reports Wednesday.

The Dolphins (6-8), eliminated from postseason play, signed Tagovailoa to a four-year, $212 million extension in July 2024 after he led the NFL in passing yards in 2023 with 4,624.

But amid a disappointing season, coach Mike McDaniel hinted Tuesday a change could be coming after a 28-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night.

“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.

McDaniel said Tuesday that he would choose his quarterback to face the Bengals (4-10) after determining “who gives us the best chance to win.”

The Dolphins acquired Tagovailoa with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Ewers was a seventh-round pick in the 2025 draft out of Texas.

He will be making his first NFL start.

Ewers, 22, made his only NFL appearance on Oct. 19 in mop-up duty in a 31-6 loss at Cleveland. He was 5-of-8 passing for 53 yards.

The Dolphins also have journeyman Zach Wilson, who was the No. 2 overall pick in 2021 by the New York Jets, in the quarterback room.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) runs with the ball as Cleveland Browns defensive end Alex Wright (91) defends during the first half at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Tua Tagovailoa remains Dolphins’ starting QB

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Despite a fourth quarter benching in the wake of a dreadful 31-6 loss in Cleveland on Sunday, Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is sticking with Tua Tagovailoa as the team’s starting quarterback for this Sunday’s game at the Atlanta Falcons.

“He is going to take the snaps this week, and he is going to be a starter this week, and my expectation is that we don’t throw 10 picks,” McDaniel said during media availability on Monday.

Tagovailoa produced a career-worst 24.1 passer rating on Sunday, completing 12 of 23 attempts for 100 yards. For the second consecutive game, he tossed three interceptions and is tied for the league lead with 10, along with Geno Smith of the Las Vegas Raiders.

The six-year veteran, who led the league with 4,624 passing yards in 2023, was benched midway through the fourth quarter and replaced by rookie Quinn Ewers.

The quarterback and head coach reviewed the film together on Monday morning.

“In this case, I thought it was important for us to watch the offense together,” McDaniel said. “So, we watched the pass game together this morning and had direct communication about the ebbs and flows of the game and how we can both improve for each other.

“Because to me, when you go through a performance like that, I don’t see it as all on a player or all on a coach. It’s a working relationship and we both have to get better together because that’s not good enough.”

Tagovailoa has thrown for 1,313 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.

Miami (1-6) has dropped three consecutive games for the second time this season.

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel looks on from the sidelines against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images

Report: No staffing changes expected for Dolphins

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The Miami Dolphins aren’t planning any immediate staff changes despite their 1-6 start, NFL Network reported Monday.

The temperature intensified under fourth-year coach Mike McDaniel’s seat with Sunday’s 31-6 loss at Cleveland.

The Dolphins are heading toward a third consecutive playoff absence after wild-card losses in each of McDaniel’s first two seasons in 2022 and 2023.

McDaniel, 42, is now 29-29 following the mistake-filled loss to the Browns. Miami turned it over four times against Cleveland and has seven turnovers in its last two games, including six interceptions by Tua Tagovailoa.

Quinn Ewers took over midway through the fourth quarter Sunday for Tagovailoa, who also fumbled three times but did not lose one.

Adding to the sense of disarray, the Dolphins were penalized 11 times for 103 yards and converted only 1 of 13 third-down opportunities.

“We did everything we could to lose the game,” McDaniel said after the game. “You saw a lot of frustration from the season seep into our play. I felt like emotional overreactions in the first half were detrimental to us. Four drives were sustained by penalties defensively.”

McDaniel was asked about his job security.

“If I’m thinking about having a job, I need to be doing my job,” he said. “I think it’s offensive to all coaches, players and the organization if I’m spending that precious time thinking about myself.”

The Dolphins are on the road again this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons (3-3).

–Field Level Media

Jan 5, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) on the field before the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Dolphins coach: WR Tyreek Hill had wrist surgery for ligament damage

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Miami star wide receiver Tyreek Hill recently had ligament surgery on his left wrist and is expected to be ready for training camp, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

The coach said that Hill is slated to begin running soon until he’s ready to catch footballs, likely in the summer heading into camp.

McDaniel noted that Hill, who played the entire season with the injury after getting hurt at an August practice, didn’t have a broken wrist. Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said on Jan. 9 that Hill had broken his wrist.

“Let’s back up to training camp. Tyreek’s scrimmaging with the Washington Commanders, and he breaks his wrist,” Rosenhaus said on “The Pat McAfee Show.”

“We have top wrist doctors saying to Tyreek, ‘You need to get this operated on, you’re going to miss the season.’ Tyreek says to me and the Dolphins, ‘I’m not going to miss the season, I’m going to play. I want to be here for my team.’”

Hill, who turns 31 on Saturday, caught 81 passes for 959 yards in 17 games this season — marking his lowest production in a full season since his rookie year with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2016. The drop came following a pair of 1,700-yard seasons to begin his tenure in Miami, and with Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa limited to 11 games due to concussion and hip injuries.

Before the 2024 season, Hill signed a three-year, $90 million extension through the 2026 season that included a $7 million signing bonus and $59 million in guaranteed money. The eight-time Pro Bowl selection and five-time first-team All-Pro is due to count $28.7 million against the 2025 cap and $51.9 million in the final year of the deal in 2026.

Hill has 798 career receptions for 11,098 yards and 82 touchdowns as well as 114 rushing attempts for 819 yards and seven TDs in 141 regular-season games (123 starts). He also has 96 catches for 1,212 yards and six TDs, and 14 carries for 96 yards and one TD in 15 playoff games (14 starts).

Kansas City selected him in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. The Chiefs traded Hill to the Dolphins in March 2022.

–Field Level Media

Dec 29, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley (18) throws a pass during the first half against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Dolphins preparing QB Tyler Huntley to start vs. Jets

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The Miami Dolphins are preparing quarterback Tyler Huntley to start Sunday’s critical matchup at the New York Jets in place of Tua Tagovailoa, head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters Wednesday.

However, McDaniel said if Tagovailoa is medically cleared and has seen enough improvement in his injured hip, the team is comfortable switching to start him in Sunday’s must-win game.

Tagovailoa will be limited in practice Wednesday. He initially injured his hip against the Houston Texans on Dec. 15 and absorbed another hit versus the San Francisco 49ers a week later. He missed last week’s 20-3 win over the Cleveland Browns, which kept the Dolphins (8-8) in contention for a playoff spot.

Huntley, 26, has started four games this season, completed 61 of 92 passes (66.3 percent) for 602 yards, two TDs and one pick. He also ran 23 times for 119 yards and two scores.

Tagovailoa already has missed five games this season because of a concussion while starting the other 11. He has completed 291 of 399 passes (league-best 72.9 percent) for 2,867 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

–Field Level Media