Mike McDaniel was fired by the Miami Dolphins on Thursday after his team finished with a disappointing 7-10 record.
It was the second consecutive season the Dolphins missed the playoffs, after going 8-9 in 2024. McDaniel's tenure ends with a 35-33 overall record and two playoff appearances in four seasons.
However, due to McDaniel's youth and offensive prowess, he may not have to wait long to find a new gig.
PFSN's Ryan Guthrie recently identified the best landing spots for McDaniel. One of these landing spots is with the Baltimore Ravens, who are looking for a new coach for the first time in 18 years after parting ways with John Harbaugh.
Regarding McDaniel's fit in Baltimore, Guthrie offered the following:
McDaniel would inherit a powerhouse offense led by Lamar, who endured a somewhat down year due to injuries but flashed vintage form in the season finale. Derrick Henry, meanwhile, continues to defy logic. In 2025, he finished with the fourth-highest RB Impact Grade (85.3), second in rushing yards (1,595), and second in rushing touchdowns (16). He hasn’t slowed down, and that should terrify the rest of the league.
Add another weapon at receiver, potentially through the draft with Makai Lemon (the Biletnikoff Award winner and a top-five PFSN Impact Grade at 85.1), and this offense could explode. If everything aligns, Lamar Jackson chasing a third MVP in 2026 suddenly feels very real.
As Guthrie mentioned, McDaniel could be intrigued by having an offense led by Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. A mobile quarterback and dominant running back could be a deadly combination in McDaniel's offense.
Of course, it will be hard to replace the legendary Harbaugh. Harbaugh compiled a 180-113 record in the regular season, with a 13-11 mark in the postseason. The coach also won Super Bowl XLVII against the San Francisco 49ers and his brother.
After going into the 2025 season with Super Bowl hopes, though, the Ravens disappointed and ended with an 8-9 record. As a result, the team decided to get a fresh start, and McDaniel could inject new life into the organization.
There are now eight head coaching jobs open around the league, as well as several offensive coordinator spots, so McDaniel will likely have options.
What's interesting is that Harbaugh has been floated as a possible target of the Dolphins. Could Harbaugh be coaching the Dolphins and McDaniel coaching the Ravens in 2026?
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- Russell Wilson posts cryptic message among bad season
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- Pete Carroll predicted to be one-and-done with Raiders