The Miami Dolphins enter the spotlight again this week with another night game, this time one of two “Monday Night Football” games. But entering the game 0-3, the Dolphins are staring at the prospect of being one of three winless teams through the first month of the season (unless they tie the New York Jets).
An 0-4 start will do nothing to calm down the calls for Mike McDaniel’s job. The questions on both “when” and “if” the head coach, now in his fourth season with Miami, will be fired have burned on the internet and within the fan base.
Entering the Monday night game, the Dolphins are 25th in total offense and 27th in total defense, hardly a ringing endorsement. But how hot is McDaniel’s seat? Let’s take a look:
Miami Dolphins 2025 woes with Mike McDaniel
Yes, they were blown away by the Indianapolis Colts in the season opener, but the Dolphins were competitive in their other two losses — a six-point defeat to the Patriots and 10-point L at Buffalo.
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And the tough season seemed to begin in the offseason, between the near-monthly issues with Tyreek Hill, which have most recently included losing his team captaincy, the injuries in the secondary and the offensive line, and further punctuated by Tua Tagovailoa’s play. The franchise quarterback is 23rd in passer rating and 29th in QBR; he was fifth and 10th in those stats to end the 2023 season.
Coaching for his job?
Pro Football Talk top writer and NBC Sports talking head Mike Florio thinks the Monday night game at Hard Rock Stadium is a make-or-break game for not just McDaniel, but his general manager, Chris Grier.
Florio said recently on WQAM-FM (104.3) that “the careers of Mike McDaniel and Chris Grier are, as a practical matter, riding on this game.” Grier, a 25-year employee of the Dolphins who has been GM since 2016, has been at the helm for only three Dolphins postseason runs.
Stephen Ross reportedly being patient with Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel
But as much as the natives may be restless, the man in charge does not seem to be. That is, at least, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who reported in the pregame show for the Dolphins’ game against the Bills on Amazon Prime that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross “does not want to fire Mike McDaniel.”
As Rapoport pointed out, Ross has traditionally been patient with his head coaches, and the Dolphins extended McDaniel’s contract for three years before the start of last season (as the team was coming off of back-to-back playoff appearances).
But Rapoport also said the circumstances could change if attendance dips at home games or if the team seems less engaged in McDaniel’s message.
