Dolphins’ Coaching Situation Under Scrutiny After Another Loss
Currently, Stephen Ross, the owner of the Dolphins, seems hesitant to part ways with head coach Mike McDaniel. However, there are two significant factors that may influence that decision.
After Miami’s 31-21 loss to Buffalo on Thursday, which left them at 0-3 for the season, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport shared that Ross might reconsider his support. This shift could come if the team’s performance doesn’t improve, especially during a home game or televised broadcast where McDaniel might appear to be losing the locker room.
“He genuinely wants to see this work,” Rapoport noted. “He likes McDaniel and has faith in him, particularly after extending his contract last year. With about $19 million left this season, the investment is certainly there.”
But there’s a caveat. If fans begin to avoid the stadium or if players stop giving their all for him, the entire situation could swiftly change.
Later that evening, the Dolphins did seem to show some improvement during the game, staying competitive with the Bills until the fourth quarter. They were actually tied at one point, but a critical penalty against Zack Sheiler allowed Buffalo to take the lead. An interception by Tua Tagovailoa also proved costly, limiting the Dolphins’ scoring opportunities.
Yet, Miami’s offense seemed somewhat restrained throughout the night. Tagovailoa completed 22 of 34 passes, throwing for 146 yards along with one touchdown.
Despite a solid showing on third downs—converting 15 out of 10 attempts, which was their best result against the Bills since 2016—the final score painted a different picture: still a disappointing 0-3 record.
This season kicked off poorly for the Dolphins with an embarrassing 33-8 loss to the Colts, followed by another defeat against the Patriots where New England’s Antonio Gibson ran 90 yards near the end, securing their win.
McDaniel’s overall record now stands at 28-26, with consistent struggles against teams with winning records as the Miami coach. There’s been growing frustration among fans who are displeased with this slow start after last season’s playoff miss. Recently, to express their discontent, some fans even flew a banner over Hard Rock Stadium demanding McDaniel’s dismissal.
During a press conference, McDaniel addressed these challenges. “When I was coaching and calling games,” he reflected, “the focus wasn’t on what the fans thought. They want to win, and I understand that. I want that too.”
For now, it seems that McDaniel will get at least a little more time to turn things around. The Dolphins are set to host the Jets next Monday, followed by a matchup against the Panthers the week after.
