The Miami Dolphins need a miracle to get into the playoffs, and suddenly Mike McDaniel’s spot seems to be getting warmer and warmer by the week after getting a big contract extension before the season.

While McDaniel has been praised for his offensive prowess and even dubbed a “mastermind” over the past two seasons for being the architect behind the Dolphins’ exotic, high-powered offense, the narrative has changed drastically in 2024.

When the Dolphins lost starting QB Tua Tagovailoa for four games, the Dolphins had the last offense in the NFL. Tagovailoa has been prone to injuries throughout his career, but McDaniel did not have a capable backup QB to step in in the event of an injury. Miami lost all four of those games – which may be the deciding factor in missing the playoffs.

Entering the 2024 season, McDaniel ranked last among NFL coaches in winning challenges, winning just 3 of 13. This season, McDaniel is 1-for-2 on tackles, still last in the NFL with a .267% percentage.

A trend like this has led to questions about McDaniel’s in-game management. But there are other troubling trends in his tenure as head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

In 2023 and 2024, the Dolphins were 1-10 against teams with a record over .500 and 16-4 against teams with a record of .500 or worse. They have proven time and time again that they cannot win in cold weather games, and the sum of these factors has led to questions about his job security after 2024.

NFL insider Peter Schrager recently joined Bill Simmons on the Ringer podcast and was asked to rate the likelihood of Kyle Shanahan, Shane Steichen or Mike McDaniel losing their jobs after 2024.

Schrager said McDaniel is most likely in the mix – and pointed out that despite extending his contract in the offseason, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has deep pockets and has made emotional decisions in the past.

“Mike McDaniel, they gave him a huge extension before the season,” Schrager said. “But Stephen Ross is one of the richest owners in the league and things have completely spiraled out of control, so nothing would surprise me. This is the same owner who fired Brian Flores when no one thought it was a possibility.”