Mike McDaniel’s Coaching Prospects
Mike McDaniel isn’t quite ready to don a Dodgers cap and exclaim “I love LA.” Not just yet, anyway.
He’s set to have an interview for the head coaching position with the Bills, shortly after it was revealed that the Chargers were bringing him on board as their offensive coordinator, according to various reports.
Interestingly, McDaniel seems intent on sticking to his contract with the Chargers if he doesn’t end up with the Bills.
This situation is somewhat uncommon. It marks at least the second instance of an assistant pursuing a better role while simultaneously accepting a coordinator position during this hiring cycle.
Meanwhile, the Vikings have extended their contract with defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Yet, he isn’t obligated to pursue any of the available head coaching spots from the Bills, Steelers, Raiders, Browns, or Cardinals.
Additionally, teams like the Giants, Titans, Packers, Falcons, and Ravens are also actively seeking to fill their vacancies.
McDaniel’s circumstances could shift, especially since the Buffalo job just opened up after the team decided to part ways with Sean McDermott. This followed a disappointing 33-30 playoff loss to the Broncos.
It seems McDaniel accepted the Chargers’ offer the very next day, while Buffalo began its search for suitable candidates.
Notable figures like former Giants coach Brian Daboll and current Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady are among those vying for the position McDaniel is also interested in.
McDaniel, known for his offensive strategies during his time in Miami, presents an intriguing possibility, especially when considering the potential synergy with quarterback Josh Allen.
While the Dolphins didn’t achieve as much success as many hoped under McDaniel, several offensive players had standout seasons while he was at the helm.
Buffalo’s recent struggles partly stemmed from inconsistent performances from their receivers, including Keon Coleman. The thought of McDaniel mentoring the team’s receivers is certainly appealing.
However, an interesting aspect of his candidacy is his teams’ noted struggles in cold weather, a factor in Buffalo’s notoriously frigid climate.
During his tenure with the Dolphins, which spanned four seasons and a record of 35-33, McDaniel did not experience playoff success, going 0-2 in postseason games, including a 34-31 loss to the Bills, with backup quarterback Skylar Thompson starting the game.
