Mike McDaniel’s Future in Miami? Questions Linger After Dolphins’ Late-Season Slide
The Miami Dolphins are in a tough spot. A once-promising season now hangs in the balance, and with it, so does the future of head coach Mike McDaniel. After a rough loss to the Bengals-a game where Miami was outplayed on its own turf-questions about McDaniel’s job security have resurfaced in a big way.
Despite some reports suggesting McDaniel is safe heading into 2026, NFL insider Adam Schefter threw cold water on that idea during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. According to Schefter, the Dolphins haven’t made any final decisions on McDaniel’s status.
“I know people are saying he’s safe,” Schefter said. “I don’t think they’ve made any decisions yet about his future.
He might be safe, but he might not. That’s still playing out in real time.”
That’s not exactly a vote of confidence-and it leaves the door wide open for a potential coaching change if things continue trending downward.
To be fair, McDaniel had seemingly righted the ship just a few weeks ago. Miami rattled off four straight wins, clawing their way back into the playoff conversation.
The offense showed flashes of its early-season explosiveness, and the defense tightened up in key moments. It looked like the Dolphins were back on track.
But then came the loss to the Steelers. And then the Bengals came to town and put on a clinic. Two straight defeats, and suddenly the postseason feels like it’s slipping through their fingers.
McDaniel, for his part, isn’t spending time worrying about his job. When asked about the speculation, he stayed focused on the task at hand.
“I try to do [this job] to the best of my ability,” McDaniel said. “I have some work to do to get our third quarters right, and we’re not going to have any time to waste because there will be a hungry Tampa team that we’re going to face in a week. My focus is there.”
That’s the kind of answer you’d expect from a coach trying to steady the ship. But inside the locker room, there are signs of frustration bubbling to the surface.
Linebacker Bradley Chubb didn’t name names, but his postgame comments made it clear that the team knows it’s underperforming-and that accountability is lacking.
“Everybody needs to hold themselves accountable,” Chubb said. “We’ve been in this same position all year.
We have to figure out a way and hold ourselves to a higher standard. We’ve got two games to figure it out.”
That’s a telling quote. It speaks to a team that knows it’s capable of more, but hasn’t found the consistency to back it up. And whether or not McDaniel is part of the problem-or the solution-is the question Miami’s front office will have to answer soon.
There’s no denying McDaniel’s offensive mind or the culture he’s tried to build in Miami. But in the NFL, results matter. And right now, the Dolphins are staring down another season that could end in disappointment.
With two games left, the Dolphins still have time to flip the narrative. But make no mistake: the pressure is mounting. And if this team doesn’t finish strong, the McDaniel era in Miami could be nearing its end.