Anthony Weaver’s Head Coaching Stock Takes a Hit After Dolphins’ Defensive Collapse vs. Bengals
Anthony Weaver’s first season as Miami’s defensive coordinator has been a mixed bag-flashes of promise, moments of resilience, and, as Week 16 reminded us, some glaring issues that still need fixing. The Dolphins are officially out of the playoff picture, and while Weaver has drawn some interest as a potential head coaching candidate in 2026, Sunday’s blowout loss to the Bengals might have cooled that buzz.
Let’s not sugarcoat it-this one got ugly. By the start of the fourth quarter, Miami had surrendered 45 points to a Bengals team that, like the Dolphins, won’t be playing in January. Joe Burrow looked every bit like the franchise quarterback Cincinnati believes in, and running back Chase Brown carved up the Dolphins’ front, scoring three touchdowns in a third quarter that got away from Miami in a hurry.
That stretch alone was enough to raise eyebrows around the league. For teams considering Weaver as a future head coach, this was a tough audition to sit through.
A Defense in the Middle of the Pack-With Context
Now, it’s not all doom and gloom. Despite the blowout, Weaver’s defense ranks 16th in the league in points allowed per game-a respectable spot considering the circumstances.
The Dolphins have held opponents under 20 points five times this season, and four of those performances came in the back half of the year. That’s no small feat when you factor in the personnel losses Miami has dealt with, particularly on the defensive line.
Losing Matt Judon and Jaelan Phillips stripped the Dolphins of their two most dynamic pass rushers. Yet Weaver has managed to keep the unit afloat, patching things together and finding ways to compete. That speaks to his ability to adjust and coach through adversity-something that front offices do notice.
But the issue for Weaver isn’t about handling average or struggling offenses. It’s about what happens when the lights are brightest and the opponent is elite.
Against quarterbacks like Burrow, the Dolphins’ defense has repeatedly come up short. Whether that’s a schematic issue or simply a case of being outgunned talent-wise is a fair question.
But when the scoreboard lights up like it did in Week 16, the coordinator shoulders a chunk of that blame.
What’s Next for Weaver-and the Dolphins?
Weaver still has two more chances to put something solid on tape before the offseason. Miami closes the year against a Tampa Bay team clawing to stay alive in the NFC South and a New England squad that could be playing spoiler, depending on how the AFC playoff picture shakes out.
These games won’t change the Dolphins’ postseason fate, but they could have implications for Weaver’s future. A strong finish might help rebuild some of the momentum he had earlier in the year. A repeat of Week 16, though, and the narrative could shift hard in the other direction.
Meanwhile, head coach Mike McDaniel is facing his own set of questions. The team’s late-season slide hasn’t done him any favors, and Sunday’s unraveling wasn’t limited to the defense.
Quarterback Quinn Ewers started hot but threw two costly interceptions that derailed any chance of a comeback. It was a rough day all around for a franchise that’s still searching for answers-and consistency.
Final Thoughts
Weaver’s reputation as a strong leader and defensive mind hasn’t disappeared overnight. Around the league, there’s still recognition of the challenges he’s faced in Miami.
But in a results-driven business, moments like Week 16 linger. For now, Weaver remains a name to watch in future coaching cycles-but the road to a head job just got a little steeper.