Mike McDaniel Is Already Drawing Major Interest For ‘Familiar’ AFC Team’s Head Coaching Job

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Mike McDaniel is on the free market after the Miami Dolphins fired him on Thursday. The 42-year-old coach missed the playoffs in the last two seasons, which prompted fans to ask for changes in the front office and the coaching staff.

The Dolphins will seemingly undergo major changes in the 2026 NFL offseason, as they now need a new general manager and head coach. Meanwhile, McDaniel is already drawing interest from around the league.

The Cleveland Browns fired Kevin Stefanski on Monday after a 5-12 record. The AFC North team holds interest in McDaniel to replace Stefanski, insider Mary Kay Cabot reported on Thursday.

“The Browns just added a new name to their coaching search, and they already know him well. It’s Mike McDaniel, who was fired Thursday by the Dolphins after going 7-10 this season. McDaniel, 42, was Browns receivers coach in 2014 under then-offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, and the Browns have long admired his brilliant offensive mind,” Cabot wrote.

Mike McDaniel Is A Better Option For Browns Than Deion Sanders

Right after Kevin Stefanski’s firing, Deion Sanders popped up as a potential replacement in Cleveland. Coaching his kid, Shedeur Sanders, in the NFL enticed Deion. He revealed he would leave Colorado if the opportunity came up.

However, McDaniel has four seasons as a head coach under his belt. Before that, he served as offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. McDaniel’s offensive-minded coaching style would do wonders with Sanders. It remains to be seen if general manager Andrew Berry pulls the trigger on this move.

McDaniel posted a 35-33 record during his four-year tenure with the Dolphins. His best season came in 2023, when he led the team to an 11-6 record behind a remarkable season from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Tyreek Hill.