One particular head coach under considerable scrutiny through the initial two weeks of the 2025 NFL campaign appears to be Mike McDaniel of the Miami Dolphins. His squad, currently at 0-2, has been surpassed in scoring by a cumulative 31 points since the season’s commencement, as the defensive unit has encountered difficulties in hindering both rushing and passing plays, and the offensive lineup has yet to establish a consistent tempo.
To what extent is McDaniel in jeopardy of losing his position? Dolphins’ proprietor Stephen Ross is affording him the opportunity to rectify the situation. According to NFL Media sources, Ross is invested in seeing a successful outcome. He maintains confidence in his coaching abilities and demonstrated this by extending McDaniel’s contract last year, securing his tenure through 2028. Ian Rapoport indicates that an immediate dismissal is not anticipated.
Nevertheless, this assessment is subject to alteration, naturally. Rapoport conveys that a decline in fan attendance at games coupled with a clear erosion of McDaniel’s command over the team’s dynamics could potentially sway Ross’s judgment. He is anticipating visible enhancement.
The Dolphins appointed McDaniel to his inaugural head-coaching role in 2022, subsequent to his five-year stint as an offensive aide with the San Francisco 49ers. McDaniel served as the 49ers’ rushing game coordinator before transitioning into the offensive coordinator role under Kyle Shanahan for a single year. The Dolphins concluded the initial year of the McDaniel era with a 9-8 record, effectively concluding a five-year absence from playoff contention, which was succeeded by an 11-6 season in 2023.
Notably, in that 2023 season, the Dolphins topped the NFL rankings in overall offense, amassing 401.3 yards per contest, and secured the No. 2 spot in scoring, averaging 29.2 points per game. However, the Dolphins were eliminated in the wild-card round that year by the eventual Super Bowl victor, the Kansas City Chiefs. McDaniel is yet to secure a playoff victory in Miami. In 2024, the Dolphins regressed slightly, concluding with an 8-9 record. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was absent for a total of six games during the previous season, and Miami only managed to secure victories in two of those contests.
The Dolphins hold a 1-13 record in their most recent 14 encounters against adversaries entering the game with a favorable win-loss record. They have been outscored by a margin of 184 points in these contests. McDaniel will strive to steer his team back on a positive trajectory this Thursday night against Josh Allen and the divisional rival Buffalo Bills.
