MIAMI GARDENS — On the heels of the Miami Dolphins’ embarrassing 45-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, a new national report Monday afternoon indicates coach Mike McDaniel may not be safe after all.
The new development, according to ESPN, comes after an NFL Network report Sunday morning said McDaniel would be retained for the 2026 season.
“As for Mike McDaniel, I know people are saying he’s safe,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on the Pat McAfee Show. “I don’t think they’ve made any decisions there yet about his future. He might be safe, but he might not. I think that is still playing out in real time. Nothing has been decided there, and we’ll see how that plays out over time. Nothing is decided there.”
That would contradict the NFL Network report Sunday morning, before Miami was blown out by Cincinnati at Hard Rock Stadium.
“Our understanding is McDaniel, barring some sort of surprise, is expected back next season,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Sunday. “This is someone who does have the support of owner Stephen Ross. Remember, he extended him. The two are close. The Dolphins organization does want McDaniel to succeed and believes he could do it.”
McDaniel declined to answer, after the game Sunday, whether such a message had been conveyed to him from Ross.
“I don’t spend my time thinking about the job I already have,” McDaniel said Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. “I try to do it to the best of my ability.”
McDaniel has consistently stated, since benching quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for rookie Quinn Ewers ahead of the game against the Bengals, the decision was about giving the team the best chance to win.
The Dolphins coach was asked Monday if he had received any assurance from above him about his job if he made the switch to the youngster.
“What I try to do is the right thing for the right reasons,” McDaniel said. “I don’t weigh those and decide against those because of potential ramifications or whatnot. That conversation would be clunky and wouldn’t even be a consideration for me.
“I mean what I say when I value, over everything, the finite careers of all, how important each and every game is to these guys’ careers. I don’t play Monopoly with people’s careers. So, when I say I think someone gives the best chance to win, I mean it out of integrity, something I firmly believe. And I think there was play displayed by Quinn that I thought gave us a chance to win. I think we lost as a team.”
Fitzpatrick, Daniels updates
McDaniel said Monday safety Minkah Fitzpatrick remains week to week ahead of Sunday’s home finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8).
He said he’s not optimistic about Fitzpatrick returning from the calf injury suffered Dec. 15 against the Pittsburgh Steelers in time for Sunday’s game but added “there’s a reason why we haven’t shut him down.”
So Fitzpatrick could still be in play for the finale against the New England Patriots in Foxborough.
As far as guard James Daniels, Miami’s prized free agent addition in the offseason, McDaniel said Monday he doesn’t expect him back for the remainder of the season with two games left.
Daniels, who rehabbed a torn Achilles in the past offseason, suffered a pectoral injury three snaps into the season’s opener on Sept. 7. He has been on injured reserve since.
McDaniel did not forecast toward Daniels’ future beyond this season, when asked Monday.
After wide receiver and return specialist Dee Eskridge left Sunday’s game early with a toe injury, McDaniel said he still needed more information on his prognosis as of his Monday news conference.
Pro Bowl announcement
The NFL will announce Pro Bowl rosters Tuesday.
Deserving Dolphins candidates include running back De’Von Achane, linebacker Jordyn Brooks, center Aaron Brewer and punter Jake Bailey.
Player selections for the AFC and NFC rosters are determined by the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches, with each group’s vote counting as one-third of the equation.
Fan voting closed Dec. 15, and Miami had one player lead the AFC in votes: Brooks.
Last season, the Dolphins were without a Pro Bowler on the initial selection, but tight end Jonnu Smith was added later.