After two weeks of the 2025 NFL season, Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is under scrutiny as his team sits at 0-2, having been outscored by 31 points.
The defense has struggled against both the run and pass, and the offense lacks rhythm. Despite this, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross remains supportive, believing in McDaniel, who signed a contract extension through 2028.
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, McDaniel’s job is not immediately at risk, but continued poor performance, declining fan attendance, or loss of locker room confidence could shift Ross’ perspective.
McDaniel, hired in 2022 after serving as an offensive assistant and coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers, led Miami to a 9-8 record and a playoff berth in his first year, followed by an 11-6 season in 2023, when the Dolphins topped the NFL in total offense (401.3 yards per game) and ranked second in scoring (29.2 points per game).
However, they fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in the wild-card round. In 2024, Miami regressed to 8-9, with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missing six games, resulting in only two wins. The Dolphins have struggled significantly, going 1-13 in their last 14 games against teams with winning records, outscored by 184 points.
McDaniel faces a critical test against the Buffalo Bills, led by Josh Allen, on Thursday night as he works to reverse the team’s fortunes.
