Mike McDaniel receiving offensive coordinator interest from NFC team after Dolphins firing

The Miami Dolphins are going in a different direction, as the franchise fired head coach Mike McDaniel after four seasons on Thursday.

McDaniel ends his tenure in Miami with a 35-33 record and two playoff appearances. Though the 42-year-old should receive some head coaching interest, he will be a highly-coveted offensive coordinator candidate, and an NFC team has already reached out to McDaniel for their offensive coordinator opening.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Detroit Lions reached out to McDaniel regarding their offensive coordinator.

Detroit fired offensive coordinator John Morton on Tuesday, who was stripped of his play-calling duties by head coach Dan Campbell in the middle of the 2025 season.

"The Lions have reached out to former Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel about their vacant offensive coordinator position, sources say. McDaniel is a top candidate for any open OC job," Rapoport wrote on X.

McDaniel served as the offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers in 2021, working with Kyle Shanahan to lead one of the NFL's most potent offenses.

Now back on the market, McDaniel will likely have his pick of offensive coordinator jobs. The Lions are an attractive spot, as the team's offense boasts a ton of playmakers and a solid offensive line.

We'll see what McDaniel decides to do. Will he receive a head coaching job or return as a coordinator in 2026?