Dolphins not firing McDaniel after loss to Browns; Tua remains starting QB

CLEVELAND — The Miami Dolphins’ new low of Sunday’s 31-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns is not producing any change in football leadership at this time.

The national reports came in Monday morning as many Dolphins observers are increasingly growing to expect the development with the team 1-6 and one coach already down this NFL season, as the Tennessee Titans fired Brian Callahan last week.

“No changes are expected at this time, I’m told,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on X on Monday morning.

Coach Mike McDaniel — and, by extension, general manager Chris Grier — seem safe in keeping their jobs this week as their seats grow intensively hotter.

McDaniel would appear to be under more imminent danger if owner Steve Ross became compelled to make a move within the season.

But as the Dolphins get set to visit the Atlanta Falcons (3-3) this Sunday, McDaniel took the podium at team facilities for his normally scheduled Monday press conference.

Ross appears to be maintaining his trust in McDaniel.

“Owner Stephen Ross likes him and believes in him, has extended Mike McDaniel in the past and wants to go forward with Mike McDaniel,” Rapoport said on NFL Network.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter said, in an afternoon television appearance: “I think there are a lot of people around the league and in South Florida who thought there could be some news out of Miami today and that by 2 o’clock eastern there would be some sort of shakeup. The organization and ownership is not planning any moves at this time. Mike McDaniel continues to be safe there for the time being.”

As McDaniel remains in his position, from team headquarters Monday, he reaffirmed Tua Tagovailoa will remain the starting quarterback after back-to-back three-interception games.

McDaniel, who is 29-31, including playoffs, in his fourth season at the helm, has consistently said he doesn’t invest time in worrying about job security.

“The way I look at this job is I find it very offensive to all parties involved if I’m thinking about having the job. I need to be doing my job,” McDaniel said after the loss in Cleveland.

“For as long as I coach for the Miami Dolphins and this organization, they’ll get everything from me, and I refuse to spend my time thinking about something that — you have a job, you do your job and you do it to the best of your ability.”

He expressed a similar sentiment back in Miami Gardens on Monday. As far as conversations with Ross, McDaniel said they were about the game against the Browns.

The Dolphins coach sounded disgusted upon reviewing the tape.

“That was an embarrassing effort,” he said. “I don’t really have an opinion on the two teams against each other because we didn’t participate in the game, in my opinion.

“We need to fix things and fast. And it’s everyone, including myself — starting with me.”

One thing that has remained constant in reporting surrounding the situation is national reporters noting that Ross’ mind could change if it starts affecting his bottom line.

“The only thing that would change it is if, one, fans suddenly stopped showing up to the stadium, which could happen for a really bad team in a lost season,” Rapoport said, “or two, if players stopped playing for him.”

The latter doesn’t seem to be on the verge of occurring, although some could argue it already did with a 25-point loss to the previously 1-5 Browns while committing four turnovers and 10 penalties.

But in the visitors’ locker room at Huntington Bank Field after Sunday’s game, players continued to say the right things on the topic of remaining receptive to McDaniel’s coaching.

“We’re not going to stop listening to our coaches because we’re 1-6,” cornerback Jack Jones said. “It’s a pecking order and it trickles down. We’re going to listen to our coaches, and the coaches are going to listen to whoever’s above them.

“We’re not going to come in the building and disrespect anybody. We’re going to come in the building and actually work harder because we want to win. It’s not like we’re happy with losing.”

Added outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips: “We’re not turning against him. We’re not turning against each other.”

Left tackle Patrick Paul said the problem isn’t McDaniel’s game planning or coaching but player execution on the field.

“I think we all believe in him as coach, and we have to execute as players,” Paul said.

On NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” coverage, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio said Ross entered the 2025 season with the idea of giving McDaniel and Grier the full year, but results like the loss to the Browns are the type of matters that alter timelines.

“The plan from owner Stephen Ross was to give both Mike McDaniel and the general manager, Chris Grier, all of the season to see where the season went,” Florio said. “Now, they’re 1-6, they lose to the previously 1-5 Browns in blowout fashion. That timetable could change, and it could change quickly.”

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