“Players stopped playing for him”: Mike McDaniel may not be fired after losing to one of the worst NFL teams

Even before the 2025 season began, Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was on the hot seat. According to Nate Davis of USA TODAY, the Dolphins are approaching the 25th anniversary of their most recent playoff win, and McDaniel’s team has too often come up small in big spots.

They are 1-6 at the moment after losing 31–6 to one of the worst NFL teams—the Cleveland Browns (2–5)—according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. But will McDaniel be fired? Rapoport recently shed some light on it: “Early on in the season for the Dolphins, and for Mike McDaniel, is that the owner, Stephen Ross, likes him and believes in him. Has extended him in the past and wants to go forward with Mike McDaniel. The only thing that would change it is if 1: Fans suddenly stopped showing up to the stadium, which could happen for a really bad team in a lost season, or 2: If the players stopped playing for him.”

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross’ message

Rapoport reports that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross likes Mike McDaniel and believes in him. But Nate Davis had already shared the owner’s message before the season— “Continuity in leadership is not to be confused with an acceptance that the status quo is good enough. We will take a hard look at where we have fallen short and make the necessary changes to deliver our ultimate goal of building and sustaining a winning team that competes in championships.” Is 1-6 a status quo? Will McDaniel be fired after Week 8’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons? Only time will tell.

For now, let’s understand what Rapoport had to share about the Dolphins head coach’s stay.

Fans would stop showing up or players would stop playing

Speaking to NFL Network’s Good Morning Football, NFL Insider Ian Rapoport said, “Mike McDaniel said they really need to figure out who they are and really find out what they are made of. The problem is record’s rough, and the spotlight is very firmly on the Miami Dolphins right now. There’s been several reasons why. First of all, some high-profile losses can put a coach put a team into the crosshairs, plus last week we had the controversy that the starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, calling out some of his teammates for late arrivals or something like that, and then going back or walking back his comments.

It’s kind of more firmly put eyeballs on the Miami Dolphins, making sure everyone took notice of who they are, how they play, and how they respond, and then they come out and have one of the worst losses of the season to one of the NFL’s worst teams.”

Rapoport added, “My understanding is that early on in the season for the Dolphins, and Mike McDaniel is the owner, Stephen Ross likes him and believes in him. Has extended him in the past and wants to go forward with Mike McDaniel.

The only thing that would change it is if 1: Fans suddenly stopped showing up to the stadium, which could happen for a really bad team in a lost season, or 2: If the players stopped playing for him.

I'm not saying that yesterday was a result of that, but it definitely didn't go in the right direction. We don’t know right now what is going to happen for the Miami Dolphins, but I believe it’s fair to say that questions about the future of Mike McDaniel and Tua, by the way, and everything that is in the Dolphins orbit, it is all fair now with that performance that they gave on Sunday.”

NFL Insider Adam Schefter confirms Mike McDaniel may not be fired now

As reported by Alain Poupart of Sports Illustrated—ESPN Insider Adam Schefter said on “Get Up” that Mike McDaniel’s dismissal was not happening right now—“We still may get that, but I was told yesterday, I was told again this morning, not happening right now, and so we can continue to wait, and we all know what eventually will come. There are going to be changes made in that organization, and I think a lot of people believe they're going to be happening today.

But for the people that are waiting for some type of ESPN alert that's going to flash across their phone this morning, news that we're going to cut into that the Dolphins have made a significant change, it doesn't sound like that is the plan right now.”

The Dolphins' head coach would not be thinking about himself

At a recent post-game conference, when reporters asked Dolphins HC if he was concerned about job security, he said: “The way I look at this job is I find it very offensive to all parties involved. If I'm thinking about having a job, I need to be doing my job. As long as I’m the coach for the Miami Dolphins, they will get everything from me. I refuse to spend my time thinking about something that you have your job, you do your job, and you do it to the best of your ability, and that’s where my concern lies.

I think it’s offensive to all coaches, players, and the organization, if I’m spending that precious time thinking about myself.”Also Read: “Dominance”: Daniel Jones’ Indianapolis Colts defeat Tua Tagovailoa’s Miami Dolphins by a roaring score of 33-8