Mike McDaniel is as tired of the Jalen Ramsey saga as the rest of us, but it may give the 2025 Miami Dolphins something they desperately need

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is, typically, pretty free-flowing with his responses at the podium. McDaniel has joked in the past about his long-winded nature during media availabilities, which isn’t necessarily always the worst thing for the media in attendance. They’re usually given something to work with when it comes to responses to their questions.

But the Dolphins head coach, for a brief moment on Wednesday, struck an uncharacteristically short tone when probed during his podium session. The topic at hand? Disgruntled cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

McDaniel was asked three questions in succession about Ramsey’s status with the team and the cornerback’s relationship with his soon-to-be former head coach. And the Dolphins’ head coach, usually courteous and mindful with respect to the weight he carries in answering questions, tripled down on very un-Mike McDaniel-like responses.

Where do things stand regarding CB Jalen Ramsey? Do you expect him here this week at all?
McDaniel: “I mean, quite honestly zero has changed since the last time I said anything about him. I’m very much interested in the players that I’m coaching on the field today. I think if you have a team that’s focused on getting better each and every day, that’s plenty for me to worry about, and I guess I’ll leave it at that.”

How hard would it be to find a resolution before minicamp?
McDaniel: “I’m really worried about the players that will be out on the field today, and that’s about as much breath as I want to speak into it.”

Are you sad that the relationship went sideways?
McDaniel: “I’m very excited to coach a football team, that’s not dismissing, but quite honestly, everything is an opportunity cost. So I think it is quite honestly irresponsible for me to put down some of the thoughts and focus on the players that we’re working now to build a performance for the season and concern myself with that. That’s where I should be, I think.”

And that was that. With the exception of one question about Tyreek Hill’s outrageously unnecessary aspirations to race Noah Lyles this summer, the rest of the presser was all about football and, just as importantly, the talent in attendance at this year’s OTAs for this year’s team.

For McDaniel’s flaws, he should be applauded for this uncharacteristic tone as it pertains to the needs of this year’s team. The best coaches and teams find a way to create an “us against the world” mentality. Nick Saban found ways to do that with his Alabama teams in the midst of a college football dynasty. Belichick’s Patriots found a way to get players to believe no one believed in them every year. And some of the recent Andy Reid-led Chiefs teams have found the audacity to rally behind the world not believing in them when, in reality, they were AFC favorites from the jump.

That isn’t to say Mike McDaniel is Nick Saban, Bill Belichick, or Andy Reid. But surely the buttons are there to be pushed coming off an 8-9 season with the football world generally fading the Dolphins. If Ramsey hitting the self-eject button on his time with the Dolphins can serve as that spark for the 2025 Miami Dolphins, so be it.

The Dolphins will be less talented in 2025 without Ramsey in their defensive backfield. But talent was, by and large, not the problem for Miami in the midst of their “close, but no cigar” era under McDaniel since 2022. This team has boasted a number of high-priced players who have struggled to stay on the field. It’s been home to a lot of big personalities, too — some of which have, by all accounts, had a hard time falling in line and keeping the team rowing in the same direction.

Both of those problems being solved may, after a few summer free agent signings, help the Dolphins be a better TEAM as compared to a collection of individual talents in 2025. McDaniel reportedly buys into the concept of player-led locker rooms, which contributed to last year’s disjointed effort by having well-paid talent setting poor examples throughout the season. Many believe that McDaniel, who has a well-publicized laid back demeanor, isn’t capable of pulling up on the reins and snapping his team back into line.

That said, I’ve been in attendance at more than one training camp practice at the Baptist Health Training Complex that concluded with harshly worded ‘you know what’ chewings of the football team by McDaniel. It’s out of character, but it’s present. Just like harshly shutting down questions in a press conference, Miami’s fourth-year head coach would be well-served to do it more in 2025 if the ultimate objective of galvanizing his football team on all fronts is destined for success.

For now, McDaniel can say he’s done his part by breaking character in front of the cameras to decry attention being paid to the disgruntled teammate that, apparently, doesn’t believe in this team. At the very least that's what Mike should be hammering home to his football team.