Dolphins' Mike McDaniel understands 'very clear' reality amid hot seat rumors

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel could be heading into a make-or-break season regarding his tenure with the organization after he failed to guide the club to a single playoff win over his first three campaigns in charge. 

McDaniel appeared to acknowledge the reality of his situation during a recent chat with Jeff Howe of The Athletic. 

"I understand more of my job being tailored to what people need," McDaniel said. "The job is hard. I definitely feel healthier, stronger and overall the happiest in Year 4. I do not get it twisted, ever. It’s very clear that everyone is depending on me to be better every single year. Everyone is depending on me to be my best. I’m not in the business of letting down people who depend on me."

One thing McDaniel can't control is whether or not starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remains healthy from early September through January. Thus far, Tagovailoa has started every game during a season just once (2023) since Miami made him the fifth overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. Last fall, he missed four contests after he suffered his third reported concussion since 2022 in Week 2 of the season. He was later sidelined for the campaign's final two games with a hip injury.

As of Thursday morning, McDaniel would have to turn to either former New York Jets flop Zach Wilson or 2025 seventh-round draft choice Quinn Ewers if Tagovailoa becomes unavailable. Outside of concerns about Tagovailoa's health, McDaniel may also have to deal with the fact that his QB1 and star wide receiver Tyreek Hill seemingly aren't the best of friends this summer after Hill subbed himself out of the Dolphins' regular-season finale this past January and then told reporters he was "out."

For now, McDaniel is encouraged by what he's seen from his players throughout training camp. 

"It’s been the most emphatic commitment to a cause and to each other from a team that I’ve seen," McDaniel added during his comments. "This is the time you win regular-season games. This is the time you win playoff games. It truly is, because you set the standard for the way your team is going to operate together. You get to define what you want it to look like, how you want it to move and what you want to tolerate."

As of Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Dolphins at +220 betting odds to make the playoffs this season. Miami reportedly could part ways with both McDaniel and Tagovailoa if the club fails to notch at least one postseason victory in early 2026.