Miami Dolphins make decision on Mike McDaniel future as head coach before Buffalo Bills loss – but there’s a ‘caveat’

THE MIAMI DOLPHINS have made their decision regarding under-fire head coach Mike McDaniel following their loss to the Buffalo Bills.

The 42-year-old has led the Dolphins to a 0-3 record so far this season following their 21-31 defeat on the road on Thursday.

AP

Mike McDaniel is under immense pressure after an 0-3 start to the season[/caption]

AP

But the Miami Dolphins head coach is not set to be fired just yet[/caption]

But, according to reports from Ian Rapoport, owner Stephen Ross is not willing to rush into a decision by firing the coach so early in the season.

Rapoport told Prime Video: “The Dolphins owner does not want to fire Mike McDaniel, he wants this to work.

“He likes him, he believes in him, he has invested in him including giving him a contract extension last year.

“Whenever he has had to, whenever possible, he has been patient. My sense is nothing imminent on that front.”

McDaniel became head coach in Miami ahead of the 2022 NFL season, and immediately led the AFC East outfit to consecutive postseason appearances, losing both.

Owner Ross handed McDaniel a contract extension in August of last year, despite 2024 being his first losing season as coach, and his first season without a postseason appearance.

That contract still has £19million left according to Rapoport, and would see him through to the end of the 2028 season.

But despite his employer’s patience, McDaniel’s position is not completely safe.

Rapoport added: “However there is a caveat, that can change.

“If fans suddenly stop showing up to the stadium or if players stop playing for him, that could alter the situation.”

That caveat is likely one that rings eerily true for McDaniel, who has already endured protests from fans this season.

Fans went as far as to fly a plane over the stadium during the team’s game against the New England Patriots with a banner calling for McDaniel and GM Chris Grier to be fired last weekend.

There have also been hints of unrest in the dressing room, with a player-only meeting reportedly being called after their game one loss to the Indianapolis Colts earlier this month.

Wide receiver Tyreek Hill has also made his frustrations with the team apparent on the field this season.

Following Thursday’s loss, McDaniel said: “[The reaction is] frustration that turns to focus. I would say I am very focused and motivated to continue eliminating things that cost us games.

Reuters

“We have a young team, a lot of people that you’re counting on and you need them to not be young for very much longer and continue to grow. I know I have a locker room that is all in to grow through the process.

“There are some tough lessons and tough things you have to deal with in the NFL, to be successful in it you have to not have things cause you failure and it be in vain.

“You have to be able to go through tough times and not splinter, and we’ll need that to get the results that we want so that we can be on the right side of the win column.”

McDaniel has games against fellow struggling sides up next in the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, both being 0-2 as of time of writing.

If the coach cannot find a result in one or both of those games then it is hard to see the situation remaining stable at Hard Rock Stadium.