ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The belief that Thursday night’s game could be coach Mike McDaniel’s last leading the Miami Dolphins may be more outside noise than the inclination inside the organization.
An NFL Network report ahead of “Thursday Night Football” against the Buffalo Bills indicated owner Steve Ross is not imminently considering change atop the football operation.
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“Stephen Ross, the Dolphins owner, does not want to fire Mike McDaniel. He doesn’t,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said on the Amazon Prime Video pregame show. “He wants this to work, likes him. He believes in him. He has invested in him, including giving him a contract extension.”
McDaniel still has two years and about $19 million left on his current contract after the 2025 season.
“Whenever possible, he has been patient,” Rapoport continued. “My sense is nothing is imminent for the Dolphins on that front.”
He provided a caveat, though.
“That can change,” Rapoport said. “If fans suddenly stopped showing up to the stadium or if players stopped playing for him, that can alter the situation.”
The Dolphins started the season 0-2 with a 33-8 loss in Indianapolis to the Colts and a 33-27 defeat at home to the New England Patriots last Sunday, going into the Buffalo game on a short week.
Ahead of that home opener, a group of fans organized to crowdsource funds for a plane to fly over Hard Rock Stadium, attached to a banner calling for McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier to be fired.
McDaniel said he paid no mind to the banner pregame, as he was focused on calling the game, and understood fans’ frustration.