Miami Dolphins fire coach Mike McDaniel after four seasons

MIAMI, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- The Miami Dolphins fired coach Mike McDaniel, owner Stephen Ross announced Thursday.

McDaniel led the Dolphins to a 35-33 record over four seasons. His firing came less than three months after the Dolphins split with longtime general manager Chris Grier, who hired McDaniel in 2022.

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"After careful evaluation and extensive discussions since the season ended, I have made the decision that our organization is in need of comprehensive change," Ross said in a statement. "I informed Mike McDaniel this morning that he has been relieved of his duties as head coach.

"I love Mike and want to thank him for his hard work, commitment and the energy he brought to our organization. Mike is an incredibly creative football mind whose passion for the game and his players was evident every day. I wish him and his family the best moving forward."

The Dolphins went 9-8 in McDaniel's first season, when they had the No. 6 offense in the NFL. They went 11-6, with the league's top offense, in 2023 en route to their second consecutive playoff appearances.

The Dolphins, who lost in the first round in each of their playoff appearances under McDaniel, went 8-9 in his third season. They followed that campaign with a 7-10 mark in 2025.

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They started this season with losses in six of their first seven games. The 2025-26 Dolphins, who rebounded by winning five of six games to improve to 6-7, went 1-3 over their final four contests They had the league's seventh-worst offense and ranked 22nd defensively -- their worst marks under McDaniel.

The Dolphins announced Wednesday that they completed an initial round of interviews for their general manager vacancy. Interim general manager Champ Kelly, Los Angeles Chargers assistant general manager Chad Alexander, Green Bay Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan and San Francisco 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams had interviews scheduled this week.

The Dolphins' initial list of potential general managers included eight candidates.