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Dolphins Keep McDaniel as Head Coach (WE THINK?)

Originally posted on Dolphins Talk | By Mike Oliva | Last updated Jan 5, 2026 7:24 PM ET

Dolphins Keep McDaniel as Head Coach (WE THINK?)

The Miami Dolphins have decided to keep head coach Mike McDaniel for the 2026 season. We think?!

Well, we are pretty sure.

Because McDaniel just gave a very confusing press conference in which he couldn’t confirm 100% whether he is staying on as the head coach, but said he will be part of the general managers’ interview process, leading people to think he will stay.

He said he will meet with Stephen Ross later this week, again leading one to think his job is safe.

He laid out possible changes for the 2026 season. Which makes you think he isn’t going anywhere.

So he spoke like the head coach of the team, and said he will have a voice in the process of hiring a new GM.

So, 1 +1 = 2, and it’s safe to assume they aren’t firing Mike McDaniel.

But this is the Dolphins, so I guess things could change.

And if Miami does fire McDaniel now, after today’s press conference, Ross and the organization will look like cruel fools for putting Mike out there during the press conference when they fired him days/weeks later.

And who will want to work for these monsters who just treated him that way?

Only Stephen Ross and the Miami Dolphins could make hiring or firing a head coach a riddle where you need a decoder ring to figure out if the man in question is keeping his job.

Ross has had many moments when the Dolphins have looked like a dysfunctional organization, and this is taking it to a new level today.

Nobody who heard this press conference would think for a minute that McDaniel isn’t returning. But team has not announced if he’s returning, unlike last season. And curiously, as of 4:40, only NFL Network is reporting McDaniel’s return as a near certainty. https://t.co/RysnQZgPnh

— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) January 5, 2026

There has been a lot of speculation for months about whether McDaniel would be retained or let go, but in the end, the Dolphins decided to keep McDaniel for a fifth season as head coach.

The Dolphins finished 7-10 this season and have had back-to-back losing seasons under McDaniel’s leadership the past two years.

He had an overall coaching record of 35-33 in Miami and is 0-2 in postseason play.

One big thing to watch with McDaniel this offseason is if he loses defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.

Weaver has been a candidate for numerous head coaching positions over the past couple of seasons and is viewed as a hot candidate this coaching cycle.

If Weaver gets a head coaching job, McDaniel will have to find a new defensive coordinator and possibly replace many of his defensive assistants.

It will also be interesting to see how McDaniel navigates the 2026 season without Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback.

Miami this offseason will need to find a new QB1. Maybe it is Quinn Ewers, who is already on the team, but odds are Miami will either look to draft, trade for, or sign a veteran quarterback this offseason to pair with Ewers to build a new quarterback room.

McDaniel will enter the 2026 season on the hottest of hot seats. He may have survived this time and kept his job, but coming off back-to-back losing seasons, he will have a short leash come next September.

A slow start to next season will not do McDaniel well, especially with a new general manager in Miami.

That general manager may feel like he isn’t tied to McDaniel since he is new to the role and took the job knowing he can move on from him at the first sign of distress.

This article first appeared on Dolphins Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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