Did Mike McDaniel play in the NFL? Dolphins fire head coach

The Miami Dolphins have decided to part ways with Mike McDaniel, ending his four-year spell as head coach.

Miami handed McDaniel his first NFL head coaching role in 2022, impressed by his work as offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. McDaniel had built an impressive reputation as a young coach, despite having never played in the NFL.

In college McDaniel studied at Yale and played football as a wide receiver. He was not destined for a professional career as a player and, at the age of 22, was hired as a coaching intern by his hometown Denver Broncos.

He had a series of coaching roles in the NFL, most notably as run game coordinator and offensive coordinator with the 49ers. While with San Francisco McDaniel appeared at Super Bowl LIV, where the team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. In four years as head coach with the Dolphins, McDaniel managed two postseason appearances and lost in the Wild Card Game on both occasions.

What next for Mike McDaniel?

Still only 42 years old, McDaniel has been a coach in the NFL for 20 years. Despite having never played professionally he showed enough in his young career to rise to head coach, demonstrating considerable talent and application.

Across his four years in Miami he had a 35-33 record, doing so without a truly elite quarterback. That sort of performance, combined with his relative youth, could see him given head coaching opportunities this cycle. ESPN report that the Cleveland Browns are long-time admirers of McDaniel and now have a coaching vacancy that he could fill.

Failing that, there would likely be a long list of suitors if McDaniel was willing to take an offensive coordinator role. The likes of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions have open OC positions and have the sort of quarterback talent that could tempt McDaniel.

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