Anthony Weaver’s Future in Miami: A Complicated Picture as Dolphins Defense Falters
As the Miami Dolphins charge toward the end of their 2025 season, questions about defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s future are starting to bubble up. While some preseason predictions had Weaver stepping in as head coach by midseason, Mike McDaniel held onto the reins. But now, the conversation is shifting-will Weaver still be with the Dolphins in 2026?
Let’s be real: Miami’s defense has had its moments, but consistency hasn’t been one of them. Weaver’s scheme showed flashes of brilliance-most notably in the Dolphins’ impressive win over the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium and in their plan to neutralize Falcons star Bijan Robinson.
Those performances stood out. But outside of those two games, the defense either beat up on weaker competition or simply failed to meet expectations.
Even with a recent four-game win streak, Miami’s defensive struggles have been hard to ignore. The Steelers exposed them, and the Bengals followed suit.
And unlike past seasons, there’s no major injury excuse to lean on. Minkah Fitzpatrick missed Week 16, sure-but one player doesn’t explain the kind of breakdowns we’ve seen.
Weaver’s name has come up in head coaching conversations, but based on how this year has gone, it’s tough to see a realistic path to a promotion. The tape tells the story-while there have been bright spots, the overall product hasn’t been strong enough to make a compelling case.
But here’s where things get more nuanced. If we’re evaluating Weaver’s performance, we also have to look at what he was working with. Mike McDaniel will ultimately decide Weaver’s fate-assuming another team doesn’t scoop him up first-but if McDaniel decides to move on, he may need to take a long look in the mirror.
There’s a growing belief among fans and media that McDaniel’s job security this year is tied to the roster he was handed by GM Chris Grier. If that’s the case, shouldn’t Weaver be judged by the same standard?
Let’s not forget: Grier didn’t exactly set Weaver up for success. The Dolphins traded away their best cornerback to the Steelers, released Kendall Fuller, and brought in Artie Burns.
They hoped second-year corner Cam Smith would take a leap-he didn’t. Weaver was handed Rasul Douglas and Jack Jones after training camp, and he turned both into starting-caliber players.
That’s not nothing.
His linebacker unit has been one of the most reliable groups on the team this season. The real issues have come on the defensive line and the edge-areas where Weaver was working with limited, unproven talent.
Grier gave him three rookie defensive linemen and banked on Jaelan Phillips and Chop Robinson to bring heat off the edge. Robinson took a step back, and Phillips didn’t deliver the impact many expected.
If Weaver ends up being let go, it won’t be entirely surprising. But that move would raise a bigger question: who steps in to replace him? Promoting from within would likely mean more of the same, and continuity for continuity’s sake rarely leads to real progress.
Weaver’s future in Miami is very much up in the air. Once the season wraps, all eyes will be on McDaniel-not just for how he evaluates his staff, but how he evaluates himself. If a lump of coal is being handed out for the defense’s performance this year, McDaniel might need to keep one for himself too.