ESPN‘s Jeff Darlington has reported that the Miami Dolphins have extended head coach Mike McDaniel through the 2028 NFL season. Retaining their leader for the next half-decade is an exciting move for the franchise and fan base.
The Miami Dolphins Scored their Biggest Offseason Win by Locking Up Coach Mike McDaniels to an Extension
McDaniel’s eccentric personality and innovative offensive mind have found a great deal of success in his short stint leading the Fins. The franchise has earned back-to-back playoff berths in 2022 and 2023 while establishing a truly dominant offense.
Former first-round pick Tua Tagovailoa has gone from a fringe prospect to a passing yards leader (2023) and Pro Bowler under McDaniel’s coaching. This is noteworthy considering the former Alamaba superstar’s confidence seemed to be crushed by former coach Brian Flores. Additionally, the club has also traded for superstar receiver Tyreek Hill and drafted Jaylen Waddle under the coach’s tenure in South Beach.
The All-Time Dolphins’ Coaching Ranks
McDaniel’s 20 wins already rank in the top 8 among head coaches in Dolphins’ history. If Miami records at least nine wins in 2024, he will surpass Adam Gase, Joe Philbin, Tony Sparano, and his predecessor Brian Flores as he climbs into the top-four winningest coaches the club has ever employed.
If the former San Fransisco offensive coach is able to surpass 42 victories before 2028, a feat that feels inevitable, he will also pass greats like Jimmy Johnson and Dave Wannstedt to claim the second spot on the Dolphins’ coaching list. While the legendary Don Shula’s 257 Miami victories feel insurmountable, McDaniel has a legitimate chance to establish himself as one of the top 2-3 head coaches in his franchise’s illustrious history.
The Franchise Stability
It is also encouraging to hear Darlington emphasize the unity between McDaniel, General Manager Chris Grier, team CEO Tom Garfinkel, and cap guru Brandon Shore. The Dolphins unfortunately rotated through five head coaches during the 2010-2020 decade. Having the stability of a set leader, playbook, and coaching style will be tremendously beneficial as new players find their footing in the franchise.
For context, the longest-tenured coaches in the NFL are as follows: Mike Tomlin (17 years in Pittsburg), John Harbaugh (16 years in Baltimore), Andy Reid (11 years in Kansas City), Sean McDermott (7 years in Buffalo), Sean McVay (7 years in Los Angeles), and Kyle Shanahan (7 years in San Fransisco). Each of these leaders has brought an impressive level of stability and success to their respective teams. Now, Miami is in a position to capitalize on a similar level of security and consistency.
This extension is a tremendous win for the Miami Dolphins for 2024 and beyond!
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