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Authored by Marcel Louis-Jacques, published on January 5, 2026, at 5:31 PM Eastern Time.
From Miami Gardens, Florida, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel stated his intention to participate in the upcoming general manager interview proceedings for the organization, confirming his continued role as head coach unless otherwise informed.
Throughout much of the 2025 season, McDaniel was widely considered a candidate for dismissal, especially after the Miami squad suffered seven defeats in their initial nine contests. However, the team staged a recovery with a four-game winning streak, bringing them close to a .500 standing. Nevertheless, the Dolphins concluded the season with a 7-10 overall record, marking their second consecutive losing campaign, a situation McDaniel candidly described as a “failure.”
Addressing inquiries regarding his professional future, the head coach, now in his fourth year, asserted, “It is my belief that I am the coach of the Miami Dolphins unless I receive information to the contrary,” further mentioning his plans to engage in discussions with team owner Stephen Ross concerning strategies for future success.
“We intend to convene later this week to deliberate on essential matters,” McDaniel communicated on Monday. “Both of us acknowledge that our current position is not ideal, and in this profession, a concrete strategy for performance enhancement is imperative. I believe these conversations are crucial and constructive, and I anticipate that our supporters expect such dialogues to transpire.
“This season will not simply be brushed aside with a casual ‘Oops, next time perhaps.’ Instead, the focus is on proactively addressing issues, managing controllable factors, and ultimately recognizing that ‘Immediate improvements are required for this football team,’ followed by the establishment of a clear roadmap to achieve them.”
According to an ESPN informant, the organization maintained confidence in McDaniel despite the Dolphins’ difficulties, implying that their primary challenges stemmed from the quarterback position. McDaniel made the decision to replace starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa following a Week 15 defeat, opting instead for rookie seventh-round draft selection, Quinn Ewers.
Tagovailoa concluded the season having accumulated the lowest number of passing yards he has recorded since 2021, alongside a personal best of 15 interceptions.
McDaniel verified that a contest for the quarterback position is anticipated for 2026, and the franchise intends to meticulously seek its primary signal-caller, whether through acquiring a new player or utilizing an existing member of the squad.
Although McDaniel indicated he does not anticipate a comprehensive overhaul in 2026, both he and the Dolphins organization are bracing for a challenging period during the upcoming offseason.
Tagovailoa and wide receiver Tyreek Hill, the latter having been sidelined for all but four contests this season due to a dislocated knee, collectively account for a $108.2 million salary cap impact in 2026. Facilitating a trade for both athletes without absorbing a significant portion of their salaries presents a formidable challenge, and outright release would incur a substantial dead cap penalty. Consequently, the prospect of both players returning for the 2026 season under their existing agreements appears improbable.
McDaniel conveyed that the choice regarding the continuation of Hill’s professional career rests with the player himself, adding that the club remains committed to “assisting his recovery and maintaining regular, candid dialogues when he is prepared for such discussions.”
The Dolphins are presently anticipated to exceed the salary cap by $6.4 million as they head into the next season, yet they possess five selections within the initial three rounds of the 2026 NFL draft. McDaniel emphasized the critical role of developing the roster via the draft, mirroring Miami’s approach with its 2025 cohort.
“My assessment is that a 7-10 record is insufficient; a 1-6 start is unquestionably inadequate, but the resilience displayed by our team originated from specific factors,” McDaniel remarked. “Our responsibility is to precisely pinpoint the elements contributing to solutions and to leverage those, and only those. Therefore, I do not envision a full-scale reconstruction. What I perceive is a team that must make astute choices and continuously reinforce those judicious decisions to yield visible progress.”
The Dolphins organization and general manager Chris Grier concluded their professional association on October 31st. Currently, Champ Kelly is fulfilling the duties of interim general manager for the squad. Among the individuals reportedly considered for the Dolphins’ permanent general manager role, three are executives affiliated with the San Francisco 49ers (specifically, Josh Williams, Tariq Ahmad, and RJ Gillen), all of whom had professional interactions with McDaniel during his tenure with that particular franchise.
