Mike McDaniel Instantly Linked By Fans to One NFL Team After Being Fired By Dolphins

Andy Nesbitt | 19 Hours Ago

Mike McDaniel was fired by the Dolphins on Thursday. / Rich Storry-Imagn Images

Mike McDaniel's run as the head coach of the Dolphins came to an end Thursday with the team firing him after four seasons. McDaniel went 35–33 in his time at Miami and was canned after going 7-10 this past season.

McDaniel was brought into Miami with hopes that he could team up with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and build a formidable offense that would turn the franchise into Super Bowl contenders. While the two helped lead the Dolphins to the playoffs in the first two years of McDaniel's tenure, they never won a playoff game and missed out on the playoffs in each of the past two seasons.

Before coming to Miami, McDaniel served as the offensive coordinator for the 49ers and was part of the staff that lost to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.

After McDaniel's firing became official, many fans on social media quickly started predicting what his new job would be: offensive coordinator for the Lions.

GIVE ME MIKE MCDANIEL AS THE NEXT DETROIT LIONS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Imagine what that man can do with Gibbs, St. Brown, JAMO, TeSlaa, LaPorta, DMont, Goff…

DO IT DAN CAMPBELL. GET IT DONE. #OnePride pic.twitter.com/Ouw1c0qydI

— Booner (@boonersports) January 8, 2026

Way too early overreaction: Future Lions offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel

— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) September 7, 2025

Mike McDaniel you are the next @Lions OC pic.twitter.com/X33YV5JjLT

— johnathan johnson (@JJohnson3347) January 8, 2026

Beyond perfect fit that should be every #Lions fans number one target for OC

Overachieving offensive line in Miami the past four years. Offense built around SPEED. Experienced, creative, successful. Goff is the perfect fit for his offense

Mike McDaniel, Lions OC, make it happen pic.twitter.com/HWmoSGeDtY

— Ben Bosscher (@BosscherBen) January 8, 2026

Mike McDaniel. Detroit Lions OC. Collision course.

— Chris Cote (@__ChrisCote) January 8, 2026

Mike McDaniel would be a HOME RUN offensive coordinator hire for the Detroit Lions 🦁 https://t.co/TwHJRXflSl pic.twitter.com/1NkizJmzFX

— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) January 8, 2026

Mike McDaniel you're the next OC for the Detroit Lions. https://t.co/cZShNn7fK8 pic.twitter.com/LuHQuF5Mtv

— Haleem Hassan (@317kedwards) January 8, 2026

Mike McDaniel, your new Detroit Lions offensive coordinator https://t.co/2oQ3gVSZeA

— Bam Adobobayo (@Bam_Adobobayo) January 8, 2026

McDaniel should get some interest by other teams that are looking for a new head coach but with his offensive mindset and the weapons the Lions have, it would be interesting if he landed there under head coach Dan Campbell.

The Lions missed out on the playoffs this year in their first season without former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who left last offseason to become head coach of the Bears.

We'll have to wait and see what's next for McDaniel, but it's clear fans of the Lions would love to have him join their team's staff.

---

More NFL on Sports Illustrated

FREE NEWSLETTER. SI BTN Newsletter. Start off your day with SI:CYMI. dark

feed