After days and days of speculation surrounding Mike McDaniel’s future with the Dolphins, the head coach has been officially relieved of his duties.
According to ESPN reports, the Miami-based franchise has decided to part ways with McDaniel after a disappointing 7-10 record this season.
McDaniel joined the Dolphins back in 2022, with the side qualifying for the playoffs in his first two years. With the 2025 campaign marking the second year McDaniel has failed to help the Dolphins book a playoff berth, owner Stephen Ross has decided to pull the plug on the 42-year-old head coach.
With the Dolphins without a head coach ahead of the next season, let’s take a look at some potential candidates that could replace McDaniel at Miami.
Top 5 Potential Replacements For Mike McDaniel
1. Mike McCarthy
Mike McCarthy brings one of the most accomplished resumes among all available head coach options. Over a 31-year NFL coaching career spanning from 1993 to 2024, McCarthy served as a head coach for 18 seasons, beginning with the Green Bay Packers, where he won Super Bowl XLV in 2010. He later led the Dallas Cowboys from 2020 to 2024, finishing with a 49-35 record.
If the Dolphins want someone like McCarthy to lead their side in 2026, they need to move fast, with reports suggesting that he is a hot prospect amongst other NFL sides as well.
2. Jeff Hafley
Jeff Hafley has also emerged as a popular name among teams seeking a head coach and could be a good shout as far as the Dolphins’ head coach vacancy is concerned.
What Hafley brings is heaps and heaps of NFL experience, with his most notable jobs being the 49ers’ defensive back coach from 2016 to 2018 and serving as the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator from 2024.
3. Kliff Kingsbury
Kliff Kingsbury has surfaced as a potential candidate following his recent departure from Washington. The former Arizona Cardinals head coach has compiled an overall record of 28-37-1 during his tenure in Arizona.
The likes of the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans are also reportedly vying to sign Kingsbury, so the Dolphins need to move accordingly.
4. Joe Brady
Joe Brady, 36, after helping the Buffalo Bills finish the 2025 season as the 6th seed in the AFC, has naturally garnered a lot of attention from teams.
After serving as the Bills’ quarterback coach in 2022 and 2023, the offensive coordinator has helped the franchise qualify for the playoffs for four years straight now – a habit that the Dolphins would want to replicate come next season.
5. Jesse Minter
Jesse Minter, having previously worked with the Ravens from 2017 through 2020, is now serving as the Rams’ defensive coordinator.
Minter is also viewed as one of the hottest defensive coaching prospects in the league right now, and it won’t come as a surprise if the Dolphins get him as their head coach next season.
Also Read:
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