Does McDaniel Deserve a Shot With His Own Quarterback?

Does McDaniel Deserve a Shot With His Own Quarterback?

There doesn’t seem to be much on the line for Miami in their matchup against the New England Patriots on Sunday, the playoffs are long out of reach and it feels like we’re all just waiting for the team to run out the clock on the 2025 season.

However, there is the lingering question of “will head coach Mike McDaniel return to coach the team in 2026?” McDaniel has been the head man since Brian Flores was fired following a regular season finale against the Patriots in January of 2022. In that time, McDaniel has gone 35-34, including two playoff losses. 

McDaniel’s early tenure featured a reclamation project of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. It worked out well as he had the former 5th overall pick playing at an MVP level before concussion and other injuries left Tua a shell of the quarterback he once was.

Even with the unfortunate turn with Tua, which ended with McDaniel turning the keys over to rookie Quinn Ewers, the initial success was impressive and gave Dolphins fans something to believe in.

The notion that this team would finally end the 26-year playoff win drought. So now we’re at an impasse: the future for the team and McDaniel is unclear. Let’s build a case for and against retaining the man who was once touted as an offensive guru. 

I already went over the success of McDaniel’s time in South Beach, an explosive offense, a quarterback brought back from the brink, only to watch him fall further down into the abyss. What made McDaniel appealing in the first place, the ability to curate an offense to Tua’s talents, has also left him a bit hamstrung. Until Ewers this season, every time another quarterback filled in for the often-injured Tua, they looked perplexed.

Even seasoned veterans like Teddy Bridgewater looked lost in the complexities of McDaniel’s offense.

This led to a once-potent offense faltering, and as a result, the Dolphins would routinely stumble in Tua’s absence. When you design an offense for one man, and that man is unavailable, it makes you look like a play caller who is inflexible. 

There is a spin that can be put onto this; however, McDaniel’s supporters can argue that he never really got to implement his offense with his guy. He was stuck with Tua from the word go and was forced to mold the offense around him. We’ve only gotten a brief window into what McDaniel can do with a quarterback that he has handpicked. 

Quin Ewers’ first start was nothing to write home about, but his second start against a Buccaneers team fighting for their playoff hopes was much more impressive. Ewers threw for 172 yards, 2 touchdowns, and zero interceptions in Miami’s 20-17 victory. Ewers looked comfortable and decisive and put out some quality tape. If Ewers can continue that success in the regular season finale then there is a legitimate argument for allowing McDaniel one more year to get things right, whether that’s with Ewers or another rookie in 2026.

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