The start of the 2025 season has lit all alarms in the Miami Dolphinswhich add up to three consecutive losses and have matched a negative start that was not seen since 2019.
The situation has questioned the continuity of the chief coach Mike McDanieldespite the public support of the owner Stephen Ross.
A worrying start for the Dolphins
The Dolphins (0-3) began with defeat against the Indianapolis Colts, later fell to New England Patriots and finally stumbled against the Buffalo Bills, in a match that was decided by a late interception of tua tagovailoa.
It is the first time from the era of Brian Flores (2019, record 5-11) that Miami opens with such a record, a fact that feeds the pressure in both the costumes and among the fans.
Mike McDaniel, between support and doubts
McDaniel arrived in 2022 with renewed air and managed to take the team to playoffs in two seasons in a row. However, after an 8-9 in 2024 and now a 0-3 in 2025, statistics have become the main argument of those who ask for a change in the technical direction.
McDaniel record in Miami Dolphins:
Record season classification
2022 9-3 Eliminated in Commodines Round
2023 11-6 eliminated in Commodines Round
2024 8-9 outside the playoffs
2025* 0-3 in progress
Voltage in the costumes: Tyreek Hill and tua tagovailo in the center
The atmosphere in the dressing room has become tense. Tyreek Hill, who had already asked to leave in 2024, has been dissatisfied at this start of the season.
On the other hand, McDaniel would be frustrated with the errors of Tua Tagovaila, especially because of the interception that sealed the defeat against Buffalo.
The coach was clear after the game:
“The field marshal has to be responsible for their decisions. We all need to improve.”
Stephen Ross’s conditioned support
According to Ian Raport (NFL Network), Stephen Ross does not plan to immediately say goodbye to McDaniel, but warned that the situation could change if the costumes loses confidence in the coach or if the hardness at Hard Rock Stadium falls.
“There is no” imminent “coach change, Rapoport added, since Ross likes McDaniel, believes in the coach and gave him a contract extension a little less than 13 months ago; the coach has two years of contract and must still pay 18 million dollars after this season.
However, McDaniel’s status could change if things change in the locker room.
“Watch the costumes,” Rapoport said. “If the players suddenly stop playing for him, if you reach a point where it is observed in the field that these players do not believe in their coach, perhaps that could boost any change.”
For now, the stands are still full, although internal meetings between players are reported to try to lift morality.
What’s coming: Dolphins calendar
The pressure will continue to grow in Miami if the results do not arrive. His next parties will be decisive:
Week 4: Miami Dolphins vs New York Jets – Monday Night Football at the Hard Rock Stadium.
Later they will face the Carolina Panthers, in a duel where there is no margin of error.
Last opportunity for Mike McDaniel?
Each game from now on will be an exam not only for the immediate future of the Dolphins in NFL 2025, but also for the continuity of Mike McDaniel as chief coach.
While Ross maintains its support, patience has limits. In the NFL, the line between trust and dismissal is as thin as a yard on the fourth opportunity.
