Mike McDaniel Says He's 'Forever Indebted' to Dan Quinn for Helping Him Become Sober

Ahead of Sunday's game between the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders in Madrid, Spain, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel discussed the profound impact Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has had on his life.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, McDaniel credited Quinn with helping him get sober while he was an assistant under Quinn with the Atlanta Falcons in 2016.

"Dan Quinn holds a special place in my heart and my career," McDaniel said. "I think he was there at ground zero when I became sober and supported me and gave me the opportunity to continue what I love to do. So for that, I'll be forever indebted to him.

"I think it speaks to the type of leader he is—I know he really touches every player he coaches from a true, authentic standpoint. I think the Commanders are very fortunate to have him."

McDaniel said Quinn and then-Falcons assistants Kyle Shanahan and Raheem Morris sat him down on Jan. 4, 2016, to express their concerns that McDaniel was drinking too much. McDaniel divulged that he has been sober since that day.

After interning with the Denver Broncos, McDaniel got his first big break as an offensive assistant with the Houston Texans from 2006 to 2008, but he was let go due in part to his drinking.

McDaniel returned to the NFL in 2011 as an offensive assistant in Washington under Mike Shanahan, and after getting promoted to wide receivers coach and then serving as the Cleveland Browns' wide receivers coach in 2014, McDaniel landed in Atlanta in 2015 as an offensive assistant.

During McDaniel's second and final season on staff in Atlanta, the Falcons reached the Super Bowl, losing to the New England Patriots in heartbreaking fashion.

When Kyle Shanahan left his post as Falcons offensive coordinator to become the San Francisco 49ers' head coach in 2017, McDaniel followed him and remained with the organization for five years as the run game coordinator and then OC.

The Dolphins hired McDaniel as their head coach in 2022, and his offensive system has helped players like Tua Tagovailoa, running back De'Von Achane and wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have career-best seasons in recent years.

McDaniel is 31-30 in Miami, and the Dolphins reached the playoffs in each of his first two seasons at the helm, but they missed the postseason last year and are just 3-7 so far this season.

However, the Dolphins are coming off an upset win over the AFC East rival Buffalo Bills, meaning they will carry positive momentum into their meeting with the Commanders.

Sunday will mark the first-ever meeting between McDaniel and Quinn as opposing head coaches in a regular-season game.

McDaniel will undoubtedly do all he can to get the Dolphins a second consecutive win and get their season back on track, but based on the comments he made Wednesday, he holds Quinn in the highest regard.