Let’s live in a hypothetical world for a minute. Let’s say that the Miami Dolphins part ways with head coach Mike McDaniel at the end of the season. Let’s say that the Pittsburgh Steelers also decide to move on from head coach Mike Tomlin.
Technically, both of those things could happen. In that world, could Tomlin end up as the next head coach in Miami? Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report seems to think so, as he recently listed the Dolphins as an ideal landing spot for Tomlin.
Dolphins listed as ideal landing spot for Mike Tomlin
Knox pointed to the potential salary cap space that the Dolphins could create by releasing a couple of key contributors as one reason why the situation in Miami might be attractive to Tomlin. Plus, going from Pittsburgh weather to Miami weather could also be enticing.
“Miami is projected to be up against the 2026 salary cap, but it could release both [Tua] Tagovailoa and aging receiver Tyreek Hill with post-June 1 designations and net around $25 million in extra cap space,” Knox wrote. “… After slogging through nearly two decades of Pittsburgh winters, Tomlin might like the idea of overseeing a rebuild in South Florida.”
While there’s a chance that both coaches are let go in the offseason, there’s also a chance that both remain in their present position. The Dolphins have won three straight games and have looked like a much more respectable football team as of late after a 2-7 start to the season. Meanwhile, the Steelers are 6-6 and still right in the middle of the AFC playoff picture. Strong finishes from both teams could lead to neither guy being let go.
Interestingly enough, the Dolphins have a game coming up against the Steelers on Monday Night Football on Dec. 15. Tomlin will get a first-hand look at the Dolphins in that one, though he’ll likely be much more focused on leading the Steelers to a win than taking stock of the situation in Miami.
We’ll learn much more about what the future has in store for both Tomlin and McDaniel in the coming weeks.