McDaniel’s first two seasons showcased a high-octane offense, with Tyreek Hill posting career-best numbers and Tua Tagovailoa performing at a Pro Bowl level. However, the 2024 season saw stagnation as injuries and changes to the offensive line and coaching staff disrupted Miami’s previously explosive approach, contributing to a sub-.500 finish for the first time since 2019.
The 2025 campaign did not yield improvement, as the Dolphins won only seven games and Tagovailoa faced struggles strong enough to prompt a late-season quarterback change. The franchise has since signaled a new direction, with players and staff reassessing their roles amid the broader organizational rebuild.
Several of McDaniel’s top playmakers have departed or are expected to depart, complicating the team’s path forward. Still, remaining players have weighed in on McDaniel’s dismissal, offering mixed reflections on the former coach’s tenure and the broader transition.
Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle publicly addressed McDaniel’s departure via The Set with Terron Armstead, noting a complicated relationship and saying, “I got a lot of love for Mike… it was a lot of butting heads when he felt some type of way and I felt some type of way.” Waddle’s comments reflect a broader sense of ambivalence about the split as Miami moves toward its next chapter.
Waddle’s own future with the Dolphins remains uncertain amid trade rumors and a potential rebuild. While GM Sullivan has praised Waddle’s explosiveness and route separation, the team could entertain offers if a compelling return emerges, adding another layer to the Dolphins’ offseason plans.
