Following the season, the Miami Dolphins made the announcement that they were parting ways with head coach Mike McDaniel. McDaniel led the Dolphins for four seasons, achieving a 35-33 record with the team and making the playoffs on two occasions. Despite back-to-back playoff appearances, the team took a step back in the following two seasons as they posted consecutive losing seasons. The 2025 season represented their worst season since 2019, when the team was in a rebuilding period.
Despite McDaniel not believing another rebuild was necessary, the Dolphins opted to look for a new man in charge of the team. According to Miami Herald writer Barry Jackson, their No. 1 target is former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. He reported that the team had not made contact with him at the time of McDaniel’s firing, but that owner Stephen Ross has a relationship with the Harbaughs.
Dolphins Competition Is Revealed
Getting Harbaugh will require some work from Miami’s side. Following Harbaugh’s dismissal from Baltimore, ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported that Harbaugh’s agent received calls from seven different NFL teams. According to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington and Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, the Dolphins were not one of those seven teams. However, both expected the Dolphins to express interest following McDaniel’s firing.
As a result of his extensive history of winning, many teams with a head coach vacancy will have Harbaugh at the top of their list. One of those teams that will be in direct competition with the Dolphins is the New York Giants. Giants insider Gary Myers said, “I see the Harbaugh Sweepstakes coming down to the Giants vs. Dolphins now that Miami has fired Mike McDaniel. Dolphins added Chargers assistant general manager Chad Alexander to their general manager search after Harbaugh was fired. Alexander worked more than 10 years with Harbaugh in Baltimore before 5 years as Joe Douglas’s assistant with the Jets and then joined Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is a huge fan of Jim and tried to hire him in the past. They have a University of Michigan connection. So it makes sense if he goes hard after John.”
NFL insider Benjamin Allbright had previously reported that the Giants also had Harbaugh as their top head coaching candidate, however, he noted that he was unsure whether the Giants were Harbaugh’s preferred destination.
Dolphins vs Giants
When comparing both rosters, it makes sense why a coach would opt to go with the Giants over the Dolphins. The Giants have an exciting quarterback in Jackson Dart, who made The Athletic’s all-rookie team. They also have talented pass-rusher Abdul Carter, who led all rookies with 66 pressures. New York is also expected to have Pro Bowl wide receiver Malik Nabers for the 2026 season alongside talented running back Cam Skattebo. The Giants also possess a higher pick in the draft than Miami.
CBS Sports columnist Pete Prisco talked about the Dolphins head coaching vacancy, saying “If Harbaugh is a candidate for several jobs, why would he pick Miami? The quarterback situation stinks.” Regarding their quarterback situation, they have Tua Tagovailoa under contract for the 2026 season, where he’s set to carry a $54 million cap hit. Tagovailoa was benched by former head coach Mike McDaniel following Miami’s Week 15 loss in Pittsburgh.
NFL Insider Reveals Dolphins Competition for John Harbaugh