According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Miami Dolphins might have fired Mike McDaniel for a pretty strange reason.
While McDaniel hasn't helped his case to be retained as head coach (7-10 in 2025 and 8-9 in 2024), the availability of hiring John Harbaugh might have been too good to resist for the organization that is seeking to get back into pthe layoffs.
The Baltimore Ravens fired Harbaugh after 18 seasons following a dramatic 26-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, which came down to a missed field goal attempt. Due to the loss, the Ravens couldn't make the playoffs, marking only the sixth time that has happened in Harbaugh's tenure in Baltimore.
With Harbaugh available on the market, the Dolphins allegedly sacked McDaniel to be in a position to hire the former Super Bowl-winning head coach.
"With John Harbaugh available, and #Dolphins owner Stephen Ross' ties to the family, he now looms as a key candidate for Miami. A reason to fire a coach, with the thought that they could get Harbaugh," Rapoport wrote on X.
With John Harbaugh available, and #Dolphins owner Stephen Ross' ties to the family, he now looms as a key candidate for Miami. A reason to fire a coach, with the thought that they could get Harbaugh.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 8, 2026
Also Read: Dolphins reportedly considering ditching Mike McDaniel for John Harbaugh
How is Dolphins ownership tied to John Harbaugh?
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross actually enjoys a long-standing family connection with John Harbaugh, a big reason why the former Ravens coach has immediately become the No. 1 candidate to become Miami's next head coach.
Ross reportedly once pursued Harbaugh’s brother Jim in a past coaching search before he hired Tony Sparano as head coach of Miami. Moreover, Ross is a proud alum of the University of Michigan and Harbaugh went to high school in Michigan.
However, the Dolphins will have to battle out the rest of the NFL teams because he's a hot commodity right now, and as per his agent, as many as seven teams have already reached out within 48 hours of dismissal as Ravens head coach.
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