Last Sunday evening, I posted that I had seen the question of whether Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was on the “hot seat” heading into the 2024 NFL season being asked on various NFL shows and YouTube channels/Podcasts. The opinion was mixed, with some saying he was and some saying no way. The reasons they gave for his being on the hot seat and possibly losing his gig in South Florida basically fell into two categories: not making the playoffs and not winning a playoff game, in which case I guess the former would also apply.
I also posted a poll asking: “Do you think that there’s a chance that Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is on the hot seat in 2024?”
- No, I think Ross will give him at least one more season no matter the outcome- led the way with 354 votes, or 77% of all votes.
- Maybe, if he does not win a playoff game or misses the playoffs- came in second with 82 votes, or 18% of all votes.
- Absolutely, if he doesn’t win a playoff game he’s gone- came in third with 26 votes, or 6% of all votes.
I then asked the question: Do you think Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is on the hot seat this season if he does not take the team further in the playoffs or, worse, regresses in some way? What would it take to keep Ross from considering moving on from McDaniel after three seasons?
Below are some of your thoughts and answers-
MIAMI235 thinks no one knows but still hopes McDaniel is on the hot seat…I think!?!
Who can really know the answer to this question?
Through the years so many decisions have been made , that have you scratching your head. As with all teams.
I hope so, is my answer.
MiMiami says for sure!
Oh yeah. His seat is warm, for sure.
Miami blew a three game lead to win the division last year, only to fall to Buffalo at home on national television. Miami lost to KC on the road in the playoffs; I don’t feel bad losing to the SB champs. Losing to BUF is inexcusable.
The criticism and chatter is going to be LOUD when Miami loses in week 2 of this new year.
Call_for_the_Priest’77 says the key for McDaniel to stay off the hot seat in 2025 is to put together a solid 2024 campaign.
This will be an interesting year for McD. He has come on strong in both years thus far but faltered down the stretch. This of course mirrors the play of his starting QB, which is hardly a big surprise.
Ultimately it comes down to Tua taking that next level but (and here I go again…) it comes down to team health (I’m hoping the more times I bring this up, the better chance my words will somehow through subliminal quantum mechanics maybe, reach the eyes of Grier and filter down to the team). The OL regs MUST be there down the stretch, playing at a dominant or at least dictating level. Next (and somewhat of a logical segue into my next point), Tua must hold onto the ball longer when necessary. This should be done when initial reads aren’t there but also by design, to mess up the defense even more. They will be even more on their heels if they don’t know the pass is coming quick or (relatively) later. More importantly it will give Tua the confidence to stand up and deliver against the tougher teams down the stretch. That and team health will take Tua and the team to the next level.
So McD has to get this out of Tua, preferably during this season. This is a win now team because we have the talent to do that! Apart from designing or modifying plays to allow Tua to hold onto the ball longer (either by design or necessity), McD’s job should primarily be as a facilitator, keeping everybody in the loop and letting them do their jobs. The game plans are pretty well set. Our core group knows their jobs. They will get the new guys up to speed.
Unless unmitigated disaster capsizes the team this year, McD should be safe for 2024 all else considered. Should we fail to reach and put together one helluva playoff game, then McD could face an exponentially hotter and hotter seat throughout 2025. McD has brought a winning mentality to the team, for which he deserves plenty of praise. But the game itself needs competition to thrive as much as possible from all teams. If McD is still shuffling on the threshold of relevance after 2024 instead of confidently taking us through, the meter will start and McD will have no other choice but to field a relevant team in order to keep his job. He is without question, our most successful coach since Dave Wannstedt back at the beginning of this millennial mediocrity but neither the team nor the game itself, can afford stagnation.
