There is another NFL team with a 1-5 record and a head coach firmly on the hot seat. But Mike McDaniel lives for another week as the Miami Dolphins coach.
Brian Callahan became the first NFL coach to be fired this season when the Tennessee Titans made the move on Oct. 13 with the team off to a 1-5 start.
There is another NFL team with a 1-5 record and a head coach squirming on the hot seat. But Mike McDaniel lives for another week as the Miami Dolphins coach and will be preparing them to play at the Cleveland Browns - yet another 1-5 team - on Oct. 19.
There is much speculation that McDaniel will be the next NFL coach to get the axe, especially after Tua Tagovailoa's post-game comments after the loss to the Chargers about teammates showing up late for players-only meetings. That was seen by many as an indictment not only of those players but the coaching staff as well.
Nonetheless, McDaniel still sits in the coach's seat while everyone speculates about his future in Miami. Here are three reasons why he will remain the Dolphins coach - at least for the time being.
Mike McDaniel has backing of owner Stephen Ross
While much speculation about McDaniel's future had the Dolphins making a coaching change after their terrible start, one national reporter - NFL Network's Ian Rapoport - has maintained a different thought pattern.
Rapoport recently said, "From my understanding it would take something significant for the Miami Dolphins to move on from the head coach. They just extended a head coach that Stephen Ross really likes. And believes in. The Dolphins want this to work. And believe it will work."
Ross obviously is frustrated as are Dolphins fans, but he probably won't make a rash decision. McDaniel is under contract through the 2028 season after receiving that 3-year extension of his original contract last year.
Anthony Weaver's defense has not shined
If McDaniel were to be fired, who would the Dolphins elevate from the current staff to replace him?
Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver was on the head-coaching train after last season when Miami had the fourth-best defense in the NFL. But the 2025 Dolphins have been a train wreck on defense, near the bottom in just about every category. We all knew the secondary would be shaky due to exits and injuries, but did anyone see the defense suddenly forgetting how to tackle.
In the last two weeks, the Dolphins have turned second-string and third-string running backs into 100-yard rushers. Carolina's Rico Dowdle(206 yards) and LA's Kimani Vidal (124 yards) had career days vs. Miami's defense, which found itself focusing on turnovers rather than tackles.
The only other assistant with head-coaching experience who could replace McDaniel is Darrell Bevell, the team's quarterbacks/pass game coordinator. He has been an interim head coach twice – Detroit (2020) and Jacksonville (2021).
And, also, who would call the plays for Tua Tagovailoa - as McDaniel is Miami's offensive play-caller?
Firing McDaniel will make no difference at the gate
It used to be that teams would make coaching changes to keep the fans from staying away.
While Miami fans at Hard Rock Stadium were booing during the Chargers game, many were in their seats. And those fans paid for their season tickets a long time ago - money that has been earning interest. Sure, they could stay away for home games late in the season and that would impact concessions and souvenirs. But that's chump change compared to the money NFL owners take in with national media deals and sponsorships AND local revenue from sponsorships, radio deals, events at their stadiums as well as tickets and concessions.
Let's not forget the Dolphins are valued at $7.5 billion, 11th in the league, according to Forbes estimates. That is a 29 percent increase from 2024.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins should not fire Mike McDaniel in wake of Titans firing Brian Callahan
Category: Football
