The Cleveland Browns are in the midst of their head coach search after firing Kevin Stefanski following a disappointing 2025 campaign.
ESPN's Dan Graziano notes that the team is likely looking for an offensive-minded head coach and that's why he predicts Cleveland will hire former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel.
Here's Graziano's thoughts on his prediction:
Cleveland's perpetually challenging quarterback situation could make this job a tough sell, but McDaniel is quirky, creative and confident. And he had success in a challenging QB situation during his first two seasons in Miami. It's not tough to imagine the Browns' front office wanting to tap into McDaniel's ideas about how to design and run an offense.
McDaniel's tenure in Miami ended on a sour note, but he remains one of the most respected offensive play-callers in the NFL, so he fits the mold of what Cleveland could be looking for.
Connections are important and McDaniel already has one with the Browns after serving as the team's wide receivers coach in 2014.
Hiring McDaniel would be great news for Shedeur Sanders, who is currently the favorite to start in Cleveland in 2026.
As evidenced by his work with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the early years of his tenure with the team, the former Dolphins coach can elevate Sanders (or whoever is playing quarterback for the Browns next season) with his play-calling, giving the 2025 fifth-round pick a better chance at success in Cleveland.
The Browns certainly have one of the worst situations of the teams looking for a new head coach, but they also offer the opportunity for a blank slate, something that might be appealing to McDaniel.
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