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Dolphins fire former head coach Mike McDaniel: Is John Harbaugh next up for Miami?
A season that began in disastrous fashion, despite improvements down the stretch, has cost former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel his job.
On Thursday, GM Stephen Ross issued a statement sharing the news.
The announcement is the end of an era that started with optimism and creative flair. But in the NFL, being unique only buys you time if it wins, and in 2025, the Dolphins were moving in the wrong direction.
A brutal 1-6 start to the 2025 campaign buried Miami early, and McDaniel faced intense criticism about his future with the team. A midseason surge briefly revived hope before it slipped away again, and when the regular season ended, so did McDaniel's time with the team.
Ultimately, Miami missed the playoffs, struggled to establish an identity, and never convinced ownership that the arrow was pointing up. That’s usually when decisions get made.
- Read next | The ultimate road to Super Bowl LX: Full playoff bracket, predicted matchups, and game-by-game picks
Now the Dolphins are back on the carousel, adding an eighth team to the list of franchises in the same predicament.
While all head coaching hires matter, this one matters more than most. Ross himself has faced heavy scrutiny from Miami fans. Get the next appointment wrong, and his job could be next on the chopping block.
In Jaylen Waddle, DeVon Achane, and one or two others, this roster still has star power, but it also has questions - especially at quarterback and along the offensive line. Whoever fills McDaniel's shoes will inherit talent, problems, pressure, and presumably, very little patience.
The rumour mill is already gathering steam regarding who might replace the 42-year-old.
As we enter into another January, facing yet another Miami reboot, maybe Harbaugh, if he does indeed sign, could inspire the turnaround the long-suffering Miami fans richly deserve.
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