When Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel was asked if the nature of team owner Steve Ross’ conversations with him or his tone has changed after Thursday night’s 28-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, he offered his most succinct answer in four years leading the team.
“No,” McDaniel responded Friday morning.
The noise surrounding McDaniel’s job security intensifies once again after his team suffered a second loss by at least three touchdowns in 12 days to sink them to 2-7.
When Miami went down, 31-6, in Cleveland against the Browns on Oct. 19, national reporters addressed speculation McDaniel could be fired but maintained that Ross was not making a move against the coach he hired in 2022 and would remain patient with him.
The Dolphins’ surprising 34-10 victory against the Falcons in Atlanta last Sunday offered momentary relief, but it proved short-lived after Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson threw for four touchdowns Thursday night at Hard Rock Stadium and the Dolphins offense missed a series of opportunities to score with three turnovers and other costly miscues.
Only heightening the perceived danger for McDaniel is the long layoff between games following a Thursday nighter. Friday marked the first of nine days between Dolphins games, with Miami next hosting the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 9. It would give the team extended time to adjust to an interim coach scenario before it takes the field again.
But McDaniel held a day-after web conference with reporters Friday morning as was already scheduled, an indication he seems safe again.
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On the days following at least the previous three losses, McDaniel has been asked about his conversations with Ross. The coach has consistently said that the team owner asks about the game that just took place and then looks ahead to the one that follows. On Friday, he said it was no different following the loss to Baltimore.
McDaniel has been peppered with this question, in part, because Ross has steered clear of interviews over his football team in the time McDaniel has been employed by his team. Ross last fielded questions from media that cover the Dolphins in January 2022, when ex-coach Brian Flores was fired. Weeks later, Flores dropped a lawsuit against the Dolphins and the NFL, claiming racial discrimination. The lawsuit is ongoing and currently stalled.
During Thursday night’s Amazon Prime Video broadcast of the Ravens’ drubbing of the Dolphins, cameras focused on Ross multiple times as the score went sideways for Miami.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was asked, after the game Thursday, if the 2-7 start with the mini-bye over the weekend, brings him concerns over his coach’s job or teammates getting dealt by Tuesday’s trade deadline.
“I would say that’s above my pay grade,” Tagovailoa said. “I let those guys upstairs worry about that and do what they need to do in terms of how we’re working things with the team.”
This story will be updated.
