Dolphins' Ross Reportedly 'Likes' Mike McDaniel, Will Be Patient amid Hot-Seat Rumors

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is still in head coach Mike McDaniel's corner despite an 0-3 start to the season.

"Here is my understanding of where it all stands. Stephen Ross, the Dolphins owner, plans to be patient," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday. "Almost always in the past in similar situations, he has been patient. I do not sense anything imminent regarding a potential change in Mike McDaniel's job status. Mostly because Stephen Ross likes him, believes in him and has invested in him."

While Rapoport's report was a positive one for McDaniel in terms of the head coach's job status, he did offer a word of warning.

"As far as what to look for, keep an eye on the locker room," Rapoport said. "If the players suddenly stop playing for him, if that becomes a thing where you look on the field and say, 'these players do not believe in their coach,' perhaps that could trigger some change."

It didn't seem as if the players quit on McDaniel at all during Thursday's daunting road trip to face the Buffalo Bills.

Many likely expected the Bills to steamroll their way to an easy victory, but Miami tied the game at 21 in the fourth quarter with a touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Tyreek Hill and had an opportunity to tie it again in the final minutes before Tagovailoa threw an interception deep in Buffalo territory.

The Bills kicked a field goal on the ensuing drive to all but clinch the 31-21 win.

▶️  Full Dolphins-Bills Recap

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The effort stood in stark contrast to the Dolphins' season-opening 33-8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts and perhaps provided something to build on heading into something of a mini-bye before their Monday Night Football game against the New York Jets on Sept. 29.

New York is also winless and will be without quarterback Justin Fields for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of a concussion. If Miami can follow its solid showing against the Bills with a win over the Jets, perhaps McDaniel can turn things around and keep his job throughout the season.

He is 28-26 overall during his tenure and led the Dolphins to back-to-back playoff appearances in his first two seasons in 2022 and 2023. It was Miami's first back-to-back postseason appearances since the 2000 and 2001 campaigns.

Still, questions about McDaniel's job security have been a theme at the start of the 2025 season, but the coach can at least take solace knowing Ross reportedly plans on exercising some patience before making a potential change.