Mike McDaniel Linked to AFC Team As Potential Hire by NFL Insider Amid Dolphins Rumors

While it remains to be seen whether Mike McDaniel will return as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins for the 2026 season, he reportedly could be on the Cleveland Browns' radar if he doesn't.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday his "sense is that McDaniel would be a candidate in Cleveland, should the Dolphins move on and Cleveland's job open. He still has some support in Miami. We will see if that's enough. He has made a case to stay. From what I've gathered, the Dolphins' GM search won't necessarily be centered around fitting with McDaniel; it's more so about finding the best team fit in general."

That would require the Browns moving on from head coach Kevin Stefanski, which Fowler also pointed out is a possibility after a second straight last-place finish in the AFC North.

McDaniel's job status was seemingly a weekly topic early in the season when the Dolphins started 2-7 and looked like one of the worst teams in the league. From planes flying overhead the stadium calling for a coaching change to inconsistency from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and others, a change seemed inevitable. 

Yet Miami is 5-2 in the last seven games and has finished the campaign on a strong note.

Rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers got the first win of his career Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and McDaniel may have built enough late momentum to save his job moving forward.

As for the Browns, McDaniel has an offensive background from his time on the staffs of the San Francisco 49ers, Washington, Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons. He was also on Cleveland's staff during the 2014 campaign.

Hiring him could mean McDaniel working with quarterback Shedeur Sanders after the rookie has flashed some of his potential in his first NFL season.

▶️ Full Bills-Browns Recap

04:41

While the fifth-round pick may not be the long-term answer for the Browns with seven touchdown passes to 10 interceptions, working with McDaniel could help him fully unlock his potential.

After all, Tagovailoa led the league in passing yards as a Pro Bowler in 2023 before durability and consistency concerns largely defined his play of late. If McDaniel can get that level of play from Tagovailoa, he could likely help Sanders improve in his second or third seasons.

But there are multiple coaching moves that would have to happen around the league for that to become a reality.