As the Cleveland Browns are learning after having fired coach Kevin Stefanski this week, one team’s trash coach is another team’s treasure. Stefanski has multiple interviews lined up, and now comes word that the Browns could be in the same position with a coach who was just given his pink slip on Thursday morning: Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel.
No sooner was McDaniel’s firing announced, it seemed, than the interest on the part of the Browns was reported on social media. At 10:30 a.m. ET, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Twitter/X, “ESPN Sources: Dolphins fired head coach Mike McDaniel. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross met with McDaniel this week to discuss the season. After that meeting and reflection, Ross decided to move on.”
At 11:04 a.m. ET, Mary Kay Cabot, Browns beat writer for Cleveland.com, reported: “The #Browns are interested in Mike McDaniel, who was fired by the #Dolphins, for their head coach job. He was WR coach here under then OC-Kyle Shanahan in ’14, and the Browns have long admired his brilliant offensive mind.”
Mike McDaniel Not Yet an Official Browns Candidate
There’s no word yet whether the Browns will interview McDaniel, who was brought to Miami in 2022, and posted a 35-33 record in four seasons. McDaniel arrived with much pomp and circumstance, with his quirky press conferences and pop-culture references. That was endearing when he went 20-14 in his first two seasons, and earned playoff spots twice.
But the Dolphins fell off badly in the past two seasons, going 15-19, before he was fired. In many ways, he can understand the plight of the Browns, because McDaniel has had to persevere through a bad contract for an oft-injured quarterback, after Miami gave Tua Tagovailoa a four-year, $212 million contract in 2024, only to see him play 25 mostly underwhelming games in the last two years.
McDaniel is a Kyle Shanahan acolyte who was on the staff of the 49ers and got the offensive coordinator’s job in 2021, helping San Francisco to a 10-7 record and an offense that ranked No. 7 in yardage. He appeared to be following through on his reputation as an offensive genius by Year 2, when the Dolphins were No. 1 in yardage and No. 2 in points.
Alas, Tagovailoa’s injury issues kicked in from there, and the Dolphins were No. 22 and No. 25 in points in the past two seasons.
GettyCleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry
Browns Talking to In-House Candidates
As of now, the current tally of Browns coaching candidates stands at five–at least in terms of those with whom they have requested interviews. That starts with in-house candidates offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who are expected to interview on Thursday.
In addition the Browns requested to speak with Bengals OC Dan Pitcher, Seahawks defensive coordinator Arden Durde and Ravens OC Todd Monken.
Mike McDaniel, John Harbaugh Loom
McDaniel will loom as a potential candidate, too, as will former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, who was fired this week as well.
When addressing what he will be seeking in a head coach, GM Andrew Berry did say that experience was not necessary, telling reporters he would be “open-minded.”
“I think our responsibility is to search far and wide,” he added. “There are good coaches out there. You know, we’ve just got to do our homework and find the right fit for us. We’ll have no preconceived notions as we go into the search.”
Browns Show Immediate ‘Interest’ in Fired AFC Head Coach