Miami Fires Mike McDaniel After Second Straight Playoff Miss; GM Search Underway
Miami dismissed head coach Mike McDaniel after a 7-10 season and second straight missed playoffs; ownership also seeks a new general manager to rebuild direction.
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USA TODAYRanking NFL's 8* open head coaching vacancies after Dolphins fire Mike McDaniel
USA TODAYRanking NFL's 8* open head coaching vacancies after Dolphins fire Mike McDaniel
The GuardianDolphins fire Mike McDaniel after missing playoffs for second season in row
Overview
The Miami Dolphins fired head coach Mike McDaniel after finishing 7-10, ending with a regular-season loss to the Jets that cost them a playoff berth.
McDaniel compiled a 35-33 record over four seasons, reaching the playoffs in his first two years but losing in the first round both times.
Miami's 25-year playoff-win drought, the longest in the NFL, continued after a Week 15 loss to Pittsburgh and the late-season defeat to the Jets.
Ownership parted ways with longtime general manager Chris Grier in October and has begun a formal search for a new GM to lead roster evaluation.
The Dolphins' changes add to an NFL coaching churn that includes Atlanta firings, increasing vacancies to eight and intensifying fan frustration and urgency for results.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the Dolphins' firing of Mike McDaniel as a necessary move for a team struggling with unmet expectations and internal discord. The narrative emphasizes McDaniel's initial promise and subsequent failures, using terms like "unfulfilled expectations" and "disjointed finish." The coverage highlights the team's playoff drought and cultural issues, suggesting a need for comprehensive change.