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Fans and pundits want “exact opposite” of Miami Dolphins' HC Mike McDaniel after latest collapse
Few expected the Miami Dolphins to be competitive in the 2025 NFL season, but after dropping their third straight game, things have turned downright ugly for head coach Mike McDaniel in Miami.
The 1-6 Dolphins, for all their struggles this season, reached a new low when they were dismantled 31-6 by the Cleveland Browns this weekend - a team who had, before that point, only managed one win themselves.
Already facing intense pressure to inspire a turnaround, McDaniel watched glumly from the sideline, amid a torrential downpour, as Dolphins' quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw his third interception of the game and his sixth in the last two weeks.
Neither McDaniel nor Tagovailoa have escaped the ire of the fans, or NFL pundits, in the aftermath.
Emmanuel Acho, who played for the Browns during his career, was lost for words.
Acho's prediction proved correct, as McDaniel subsequently benched Tagovailoa for rookie Quinn Ewers.
McDaniel admitted post-match that he needed to coach better, but also took aim at players who are "negatively affecting the football team."
Three-time Super Bowl champion Tedy Bruschi pulled no punches in his assessment of the 42-year-old's leadership qualities.
Bruschi might be a former member of the New England Patriots, but even by rival standards, his words were sharp.
Some on social media believe those comments went a step too far.
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While several are calling for McDaniel to be fired, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport suggested that the coach still has the confidence of Dolphins' owner Stephen Ross.
Rapoport wasn’t wrong to note that Miami’s fans might ultimately influence how this ends.
And with how loud and angry that fanbase has become, it’s hard to imagine the trio of McDaniel, Tua, and general manager Chris Grier hanging onto their jobs unless there is a dramatic turnaround in the team's fortunes.
Regardless of what happens with Tua, the suffering Dolphins fans have at least a few star performers on offense to look forward to watching each weekend in DeVon Achane and Jaylen Waddle.
As those fans look toward a brighter future and an early 2026 NFL Draft pick, the idea of a new offensive identity built around the game-changing talent of these youngsters should provide hope.
For now, it’s hard to see Dolphins fans taking much comfort in McDaniel’s words, but at least his focus seems fixed on finding a way to turn things around.
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