Mike McDaniel fired by Dolphins as John Harbaugh intrigue mounts

The Mike McDaniel era is over in Miami.

The Dolphins fired their fourth-year coach on Thursday following a 7-10 campaign that did not include a playoff berth for the second straight season, according to multiple reports.

The team’s decision to move on from McDaniel came two days after the Ravens’ shocking split from head coach John Harbaugh following 18 seasons at the helm. It had been reported that Miami was “in touch” regarding the Super Bowl-winning coach, who was dismissed in early January.

Questions about McDaniel’s future in Miami had been percolating throughout the year.

Entering the 2025 season with a retooled roster, the Dolphins dropped three straight games and lost mercurial wide receiver Tyreek Hill to a season-ending leg injury in Week 4.

Things only got messier for the Dolphins with star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa publicly calling out his teammates, a move he subsequently apologized for.

The team capped off a turbulent October with the firing of longtime GM Chris Grier.

Although Miami stacked four straight wins in the aftermath, Tagovailoa was benched after an ugly “Monday Night Football” loss to the Steelers in Week 15.

The Dolphins turned to rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers over ex-Jet Zach Wilson.

McDaniel, 42, got off to a hot start in Miami, with the former 49ers offensive coordinator posting back-to-back winning records in his first two years. The Dolphins reached the wild-card round of the playoffs both times but were eliminated.

Things started to slide in 2024, when Miami finished that season at 8-9.