Is Mike McDaniel’s Job in Danger After Miami’s Poor Start to the Season? Dolphins Owner Plans to Be Patient

Mike McDaniel's future with the Dolphins is safe for now but if the fans start losing interest in the team then the owners might take some action.

Is Mike McDaniel’s Job in Danger After Miami’s Poor Start to the Season? Dolphins Owner Plans to Be Patient

Mike McDaniel (Image via IMAGO)

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Mike McDaniel entered the 2025 season on the back of his first losing campaign as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Naturally, he was tasked with improving upon last season’s results and qualifying for the playoffs.

Back-to-back defeats against the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots soured the mood in Miami even further. Demands started to pour in from all corners for a change in the coaching department.

McDaniel found himself in the hot seat. Many speculated whether he would survive long enough to lead the Dolphins against divisional rivals, the Buffalo Bills.

This is when Dolphins owner Stephen Ross stepped in to defend his head coach. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport disclosed Ross’ wishes to the entire nation.

Stephen Ross, the Dolphins’ owner, does not want to fire McDaniel. He doesn’t. He wants this to work. He likes him, he believes in him, he has invested in him… My sense is nothing is imminent for the Dolphins on [potentially firing McDaniel].

Ian Rapoport said

Does that mean McDaniel’s job is safe, regardless of the results? Ross provided an answer for that as well. It turns out, he will only make a move if the fans start to lose faith in the coach.

There’s a caveat. That can change. If fans suddenly stop showing up to the stadium, or if players stop playing for him, that can alter the situation.

Rapoport said

ESPN’s Peter Schrager expressed his thoughts on the situation. He believes McDaniel is safe beyond the Bills game in Buffalo, but if the Dolphins fail to register a win even after week four, then the brass might take some action.

Mike McDaniel’s Dolphins valiantly fought against the Bills

The Dolphins were undeniably the underdogs going into the midweek game at Orchard Park. ESPN Bet gave the Dolphins a 24% chance of pulling off a miracle against their divisional rivals.

Is Mike McDaniel's Job in Danger After Miami's Poor Start to the Season? Dolphins Owner Plans to Be Patient
Mike McDaniel (Image via IMAGO)

It ended 21-31 in Bills’ favor, but don’t be fooled by the end results, because the Dolphins pushed the Bills to the limit.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa set up rookie Ollie Gordon for the first score of the game. Bills quarterback Josh Allen countered with consecutive touchdown passes to tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Jackson Hawes.

Tua restored parity eight seconds before the break. He connected with Jaylen Waddle for a three-yard score. The Bills took the lead once more, five minutes into the second half, as running back James Cook punched in for a score from two yards.

Tyreek Hill was silent for most of the night. He finally came alive when Tua hit him for a five-yard run. However, three minutes later, the Pro Bowl quarterback turned the ball over after conceding his fourth interception of the year.

Allen capitalized by connecting with wide receiver Khalil Shakir in the following drive, and then veteran kicker Matt Prater sealed the game by converting a 48-yard field goal.

Someone from the Bills team told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that the Dolphins played aggressively on Thursday.

Bills felt the Dolphins’ offensive game plan was a departure from previous matchups. More of a ball control offense, keep Josh Allen off the field. Mike McDaniel said that was a byproduct of Hill and Waddle getting doubled and wanting to spread the ball around. It almost worked.

Fowler tweeted

Nevertheless, McDaniel and the Dolphins succumbed to their third straight defeat. According to ESPN analytics,

Since Mike McDaniel took over in 2022, Miami is 3-14 against teams that entered the game with winning records compared to 25-12 against teams entering the game .500 or worse.

The loss against the Bills meant that the Dolphins now “have lost 8 straight regular-season games against teams that entered with winning records, tying their longest losing streak in such games from 2006-08.”

On the bright side, their next two games are against teams that finished below .500 in 2024—the New York Jets and the Carolina Panthers. Pro Football Sports Network revealed that only six teams have played postseason football after starting 0-3, the Jets in 1981, the Chargers in 1992, the Lions in 1995, the Bills in 1998, and the Texans in 2018.

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