Will the Miami Dolphins fire Mike McDaniel? Latest updates on head coach

Sep 18, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel looks on before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium.

The Miami Dolphins are off to a rough start to the 2025 NFL season.

They're among the bottom eight teams in points scored and points allowed entering Week 3 with a "Thursday Night Football" game against the Buffalo Bills.

This year marks the franchise's fourth season under Mike McDaniel. His previous three years have yielded two playoff berths but no wins and the team's finished second to the Bills at best in the AFC East.

This tough start – including the biggest loss of Week 1, a 33-8 shellacking to the Indianapolis Colts – has called into question how much longer McDaniel will be at the helm in Miami.

Six of the coaches hired in the same year as McDaniel have already been fired: Matt Eberflus (Chicago), Nathaniel Hackett (Denver), Lovie Smith (Houston), Doug Pederson (Jacksonville), and Josh McDaniels (Las Vegas).

Miami is one of the biggest underdogs of the week on Thursday night against Buffalo. With another loss, could McDaniel be fired? Here's what we know.

Will the Dolphins fire Mike McDaniel?

Though an 0-3 start would be his worst since coming to Miami, it seems unlikely that the Dolphins would fire McDaniel if he loses to the Bills in Week 3.

Some NFL analysts believe it's another loss one week from now that could be the difference maker.

ESPN's Peter Schrager said today that a loss in Week 4 at home to the New York Jets may be too much to overcome.

"Monday Night Football, Jets versus Dolphins in Miami," Schrager said. "If you get blown out tonight, it's not good and there will be people calling for McDaniel's head. If you lose to the Jets in Week 4 and start the season off 0-4 and losing on national TV two weeks in a row... that's when we really start talking about this.

"But I don't think a loss to the Bills, who are Super Bowl contenders, is going to be the reason Mike McDaniel loses his job."

NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe reported that the players he spoke to are frustrated with this start so far but aren't quitting on McDaniel.

"No one expressed panic and no one said they've quit on their head coach," he said. "Talking to people around this team, I'm told that it simply would simply be too soon for most people's estimation for a move of that consideration."

Mike McDaniel coaching stats

Since McDaniel arrived in Miami, the Dolphins rank 14th in the league in wins with 28 but ninth in points scored. McDaniel's called more prolific offenses than those in Green Bay, Minnesota, or the Los Angeles Rams.

Here are his stats ahead of Week 3 in Buffalo: