How Dolphins owner Stephen Ross fired Mike McDaniel

Drake Bentley

•
How Dolphins owner Stephen Ross fired Mike McDaniel image

New information has surfaced regarding the circumstances surrounding Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross’s decision to fire head coach Mike McDaniel.

According to tight end Darren Waller, McDaniel’s dismissal occurred during what was supposed to be Waller’s end-of-season exit interview with the coach.

“I think I was the last person that saw him before he got fired,” Waller told former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel on the Glory Daze podcast. “My exit meeting was that Thursday morning, and he’s like, ‘Definitely want you back next year.’ We’re just reflecting on the year.”

MORE: Dolphins' Tyreek Hill jokingly calls Aaron Brewer 'absolute worst offensive lineman' in NFL

That meeting was suddenly cut short when Ross arrived—perhaps with slightly less drama than Waller’s retelling suggests.

“Stephen Ross kicks the door in,” Waller continued. “He comes in, we start talking, reflecting on the year. Then, the conversation kind of hits a lull. And I’m sitting across the desk from Mike. Stephen Ross is just standing there, and he’s kind of looking at me like (nods his head).”

Manziel jumped in: “It’s time for you to get the hell out.”

MORE: Dolphins' Tyreek Hill makes viral comment hinting at possible return to Chiefs

“I look at Mike, and he was like, ‘We’ll finish this conversation later,’” Waller said. “I know they had the GM search in full flow. I know they had big business to talk about.”

Waller added that he left the facility to get a massage. By the time he finished and checked his phone, news had broken that McDaniel had been fired.

McDaniel compiled a 35–35 record, including playoffs, over four seasons with the Dolphins and is now viewed as a potential candidate for open head coaching and offensive coordinator positions.

More Dolphins news:

 

Editorial Team