The Miami Dolphins decided to keep Coach Mike McDaniel and General Manager Chris Grier despite a disappointing season. Team owner Stephen Ross confirmed on Sunday night that both will remain with the team. In a statement, Ross said, “Their positive working relationship is an asset to the Dolphins, and I believe in the value of stability.
However, continuity in leadership is not to be confused with an acceptance that status quo is good enough. We will take a hard look at where we have fallen short and make the necessary changes to deliver our ultimate goal of building and sustaining a winning team that competes for championships.”
This announcement came after the Dolphins lost to the New York Jets earlier that day, ending the season with an 8-9 record. They were also eliminated from playoff contention when the Denver Broncos won against the Kansas City Chiefs, securing the AFC’s final wild-card spot.
McDaniel has coached the Dolphins to a 28-23 regular season record and has made the playoffs twice in his three years, but the team has lost both playoff games. The Dolphins have finished second in the AFC East every season under McDaniel, always behind the Buffalo Bills.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa made the Pro Bowl last year and was one of the most productive quarterbacks when healthy, connecting with fast wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, as well as running back De’Von Achane. The Dolphins had a 70-point game against the Broncos last season, finishing with an 11-6 record.
However, Tagovailoa has suffered three concussions since the 2022 season, which has raised concerns about his future in the game. He missed four regular season games and the playoff game in 2022.
He played in every game in the 2023 season after signing a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension in July, but he missed four games early this season due to a concussion from a loss to the Bills. He also dealt with a hip injury in recent weeks and ended up playing in 11 of the Dolphins’ 17 games.
The Indianapolis Colts decided not to make major changes despite missing the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. Owner Jim Irsay confirmed on Sunday that Shane Steichen would remain as head coach and Chris Ballard would stay as general manager after the team finished the season with an 8-9 record.
The Colts ended the season with a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Steichen has led the team to a 17-17 record over the past two seasons.
Steichen is the third coach to work with Ballard, following Chuck Pagano and Frank Reich. The Colts hired Reich in 2018 after Josh McDaniels accepted the job and then changed his mind to stay with the New England Patriots.
When the Colts fired Reich during the 2022 season, Irsay made an unexpected choice by hiring Jeff Saturday, a former Colts center, as interim head coach, despite Saturday having little coaching experience.
The Colts finished that season with a 4-12-1 record under Saturday. They then hired Steichen after the Philadelphia Eagles lost the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022.
Ballard has been the Colts’ general manager since 2017, and during his time, the team has made the playoffs twice, won one postseason game, and has struggled with quarterback changes. In the 2023 draft, the Colts selected quarterback Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick, but Richardson’s rookie season was cut short by shoulder surgery.
Gardner Minshew almost led the team to the playoffs in his place. Later, Richardson was benched for one game after asking to leave the field because he was tired, and veteran Joe Flacco was unable to help the Colts win. Richardson eventually returned as the starting quarterback but was injured again, ending his season early.
Former Colts punter Pat McAfee, now a broadcaster for ESPN, criticized the team’s performance this season. He suggested that the Colts needed a “full reset,” including trading Richardson and running back Jonathan Taylor.
McAfee also raised concerns on social media about the players’ work ethic, claiming some players were late to team meetings and missed medical treatment sessions.
Jerod Mayo’s time as head coach of the New England Patriots lasted just one season. The Patriots fired Mayo on Sunday after a tough 4-13 record in his first year as NFL head coach. Mayo had been promoted to head coach last January, following the Patriots’ decision to part ways with Bill Belichick after 24 seasons and six Super Bowl victories.
The promotion was part of a succession plan in Mayo’s contract, and the team did not conduct a formal search or follow the NFL’s usual process for minority coaching interviews.
Mayo made history as the first Black head coach for the Patriots and was also the youngest head coach in the NFL at age 37 when hired.
He had earned respect as a former player, being a first-round draft pick out of Tennessee and a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker for the Patriots from 2008 to 2015. He won a Super Bowl as a player and joined Belichick’s coaching staff in 2019.
However, the Patriots faced struggles throughout the season. Mayo started with veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett, then switched to rookie Drake Maye. Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 draft, showed some potential but it became clear the team still had many issues to address.
Their victory over the Buffalo Bills in the final game of the season ended up costing them the first overall pick in this year’s draft.
The Patriots now plan to search for a new head coach, unlike last year. One possible candidate is Mike Vrabel, a former Patriots linebacker and former NFL Coach of the Year for the Tennessee Titans. Vrabel worked as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns this season after being fired by the Titans last offseason.
