Details leak on Miami Dolphins’ GM search and Mike McDaniel’s future

Head coach Mike McDaniel’s future with the Miami Dolphins has been a hot topic for much of this season. While the Dolphins enjoyed a fair amount of regular-season success earlier on in his tenure with the team, Miami has missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons now after being mathematically eliminated from this season’s race.

With just one measly game remaining on the Dolphins’ schedule in the 2025 campaign, ESPN’s Dan Graziano is reporting that after it sounded for a while like McDaniel was bound to stick around in Miami, things “seem to have shifted a bit” regarding that sentiment.

“Atlanta still seems like a spot to watch, given how far short of expectations the Falcons have fallen with Raheem Morris,” he wrote regarding jobs that could open soon. “I’m hearing conflicting things on Miami; for a while it sounded as if Mike McDaniel was a good bet to stay, but lately the winds seem to have shifted a bit on that, so we’ll see where that lands. Cleveland is a spot people are keeping an eye on, with the idea that Kevin Stefanski could be a head coach candidate elsewhere if the Browns do move on. And some are wondering what Tampa Bay might do if the Bucs don’t win Sunday to salvage their season. Otherwise … I’m not sure. What do you think about Arizona?”

Graziano’s ESPN colleague Jeremy Fowler is also reporting that the Dolphins’ search for a new general manager “won’t necessarily be centered around fitting with McDaniel.” Miami and longtime general manager Chris Grier mutually agreed to part ways earlier on this season.

“Stefanski might be the strongest retread candidate in the eyes of many,” Fowler wrote. “The [New York] Giants would be an ideal fit. And trades of any kind are never off the table in Cleveland, but it’d be tricky trying to trade a coach who’s 7-26 over the past two years. And here’s something funny: My sense is that McDaniel would be a candidate in Cleveland, should the Dolphins move on and Cleveland’s job open. He still has some support in Miami. We will see if that’s enough. He has made a case to stay. From what I’ve gathered, the Dolphins’ GM search won’t necessarily be centered around fitting with McDaniel; it’s more so about finding the best team fit in general.”

While the Dolphins have ultimately underachieved for a second season in a row under McDaniel, it is true that they have made a commendable season turnaround. After all, Miami lost six of its first seven contests of the campaign but boasts a 6-3 record since then with some impressive wins, namely a victory over the Buffalo Bills. The Dolphins are 7-9 overall heading into their finale.

McDaniel doesn’t deserve all of the blame for the fact that Miami once again posted a losing season. Tyreek Hill, the Dolphins’ most effective wide receiver in recent years, suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. Not only that, but quarterback Tua Tagovailoa endured perhaps his most trying NFL season, as he threw for 15 interceptions across 14 starts before he got benched in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers.

However, when factoring in the recent reports from both Fowler and Graziano, it appears to be very much within the realm of possibility that McDaniel’s final game as the Dolphins’ head coach will be on Sunday. Miami is set to wrap up its season against a New England Patriots team that still has plenty to play for, as it’s hoping to secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC.