Mike McDaniel Floated as the NFC HC’s ‘Eventual Successor’ Amid Rising Interest in Former Dolphins HC
Although former head coach Mike McDaniel was let go by the Miami Dolphins, NFL interest remains steadfast for one of the top play-callers the game has seen recently, especially for one of the open offensive coordinator spots.
Where Could McDaniel Become the Eventual Successor to the Head Coach?
Despite many teams not firing their head coach, openings at offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and the Los Angeles Chargers, among others, make him a top target.
One of those teams with a coordinator vacancy could even plan to bring McDaniel on, with the hope of him eventually replacing their current head coach, but who? NFL insider Albert Breer revealed which team could have greater long-term plans for McDaniel.
In Breer’s latest NFL Takeaways, he reported that, “Mike McDaniel has made the rounds, and if I had to guess, he’ll probably wind up as an offensive coordinator in the next week or so. I’ve heard Tampa Bay could be a good spot for him, and that, if he does a good job, he could be set up to be Todd Bowles’s eventual successor.”
Tampa Bay hosted McDaniel for an interview last Friday at their training facility, though they aren’t the only team to meet with him. As of January 19, both the Lions and the Chargers have scheduled interviews with him, which should be taking place this week.
It’s easy to see why both sides have mutual interest. For McDaniel, not having the pressure of being a head coach, combined with an offense littered with dynamic talent like Baker Mayfield, Bucky Irving, Mike Evans, and much more, makes for a compelling pitch. It’s a clear opportunity to rehabilitate his image, then perhaps jump back into the head coaching world in the next year or two.
From head coach Todd Bowles’ perspective, who better to bring in than the electrifying McDaniel? Their offense sputtered throughout the second half of the season, with Mayfield fighting through injuries and the offensive line allowing constant pressure, as evidenced by their 26th ranking in PFSN’s Team Offensive Line Impact grades.
Rumors swirled after the disappointing ending to Tampa Bay’s season, though Bowles would ultimately keep his job – but not before making significant changes, including the firing of former offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard.
Now, with McDaniel – a former head coach with serious untapped potential on the market – it could make sense to bring him in both for the short and long-term future of the franchise.
It’ll come down to whether McDaniel prefers Tampa Bay or a different opportunity, but we should have the answer soon.
