Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross “Plans To Be Patient” With HC Mike McDaniel

Ian Rapoport reports that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross doesn’t plan on replacing HC Mike McDaniel and is willing to be patient with him, despite the team’s slow start.

“Stephen Ross, the Dolphins owner, does does not want to fire Mike McDaniel. He doesn’t. He wants this to work,” Rapoport said on Amazon Prime Video’s pregame show. “He likes him. He believes in him. He has invested in him, including a contract extension last year. He still has two years, about $19 million left after this year.

“Whenever he has had to, whenever possible, [Ross] has been patient. My sense is nothing is imminent for the Dolphins on that front. However, there’s a caveat: that can change if fans stop showing up to the stadium, or if players stop playing for him, that can alter the situation.”

Fans are growing impatient in Miami, which led to a banner being flown prior to the team’s first home game that read: “FIRE GRIER, FIRE MCDANIEL.” 

McDaniel, 42, started his coaching career in 2005 as an intern with the Broncos. From 2006-2016, he had stints as an offensive assistant and WR coach for Houston, Washington, Cleveland and Atlanta before joining the 49ers as run game coordinator in 2017.

He remained in that position through 2020 and served as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2021. The Dolphins then hired him in 2022 and signed him to a four-year contract. 

During his four seasons as Dolphins’ head coach, McDaniel has led the team to a record of 28-26 with two playoff appearances and no playoff wins.