Mike McDaniel's Job Status Reportedly 'Firmly Up in the Air' amid Dolphins Rumors

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel's job status is "firmly up in the air," per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, who provided a report prior to Miami's Thursday Night Football home game against the Baltimore Ravens.

"Safe to say Mike McDaniel's job status is firmly up in the air," Rapoport said.

"On the hot seat, as they say. I do not sense anything imminent from owner Stephen Ross, who likes him, believes in him and has invested in him. But here is how McDaniel is going to be judged. How do the players respond? What is it like in the locker room? Do they keep playing for him, or do they not, and can you see it? That is going to determine whether he keeps his job."

McDaniel is in his fourth season as the Dolphins' head coach. Miami made the playoffs in each of his first two campaigns, highlighted by an 11-6 record and the NFL's No. 2 scoring offense in 2023.

However, success has been harder to come by since, with Miami backsliding to 8-9 last year and 2-6 this season.

The 2025 campaign has been particularly rough, with the Dolphins struggling on both sides of the ball (No. 21 in points per game and No. 26 in PPG allowed). It's also included a pair of ugly losses to the Indianapolis Colts (33-8 to begin the season) and the two-win Cleveland Browns (31-6 in Week 7).

However, the Dolphins did impressively bounce back last Sunday, crushing the Atlanta Falcons on the road, 34-10. We'll soon find out if that's a win that can turn the Dolphins' season around.

In the meantime, McDaniel's job status is up in the air, as Rapoport noted. Having only three road games down the stretch can help the Dolphins finish strong, although Miami has some tough matchups, including against the 5-2 Buffalo Bills, the 6-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 6-2 New England Patriots.