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The Dolphins are reportedly sticking with head coach Mike McDaniel after falling to 1-6 with a blowout loss to the Browns, 31-6, on Sunday.

Team owner Stephen Ross wants to go forward with McDaniel and no coaching changes are expected at this time, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said on Monday.

However, that can change.

“It is fair to say that questions about the future of Mike McDaniel and Tua (Tagovailoa) and anything in the Dolphins orbit is all fair with that performance that they gave on Sunday,” Rapoport said on NFL Network.

It comes after Rapoport reported last month that the Dolphins do not want to fire McDaniel — and Ross “likes” McDaniel and wants this hire to work out — after an 0-2 start.


  Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel during his press conference after a Miami got blown out by the Browns on October 19, 2025. YouTube/Miami Dolphins Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel during his press conference after a Miami got blown out by the Browns on October 19, 2025. YouTube/Miami Dolphins

McDaniel, who is in his fourth season at the helm, explained Sunday that he’s not focused on himself amid buzz about his job security.

“If I’m thinking about having a job, I need to be doing my job,” he said during his postgame press conference. “I think it’s offensive to all coaches, players and the organization if I’m spending that precious time thinking about myself.”

After the game, Hall of Fame head coach and current NFL on CBS analyst Bill Cowher said, “There has been a lot of talk about the lack of structure [the Dolphins] have inside the building” — adding that Miami looked “disinterested” against the Browns.

McDaniel explained that “everything is on the table” and it will be an important week for his team heading into Sunday’s clash with the Falcons (3-3) in Atlanta.

“[We have] a long work week ahead of us that we need to make very impactful and I think the locker room knows that,” McDaniel said, adding that players have been “frustrated” with the season thus far.


  Head coach Mike McDaniel of the Miami Dolphins looks on against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of the game at Huntington Bank Field on October 19, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty Images Head coach Mike McDaniel of the Miami Dolphins looks on against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of the game at Huntington Bank Field on October 19, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty Images

“There’s a lot of guys that will have an important work week,” he said. “I mean, if you are negatively affecting the football team routinely, I don’t have a choice but to assess a different player, and I have to coach a lot better, as well. So, we’re going to find out who and what we’re made of.”

McDaniel said emotional overreactions and self-inflicted penalties by his team contributed to the loss to a previous one-win Cleveland team.


  Tua Tagovailoa was benched during the Dolphins’ loss to the Browns on Oct. 19, 2025. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Tua Tagovailoa was benched during the Dolphins’ loss to the Browns on Oct. 19, 2025. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Quarterback Tagovailoa finished 12-of-23 passing for 100 yards and three interceptions — McDaniel said two of them were “extremely preventable” — and he’ll remain that starter for Week 8’s matchup with the Falcons.

Tagovailoa was benched in the fourth quarter for rookie Quinn Ewers, who was promoted to backup over ex-Jet Zach Wilson this week.

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Miami lost veteran tight end Darren Waller to a pectoral injury in the second quarter and he is considered week to week with a strain, according to Rapoport.

The Dolphins are already without star receiver Tyreek Hill, who suffered a gruesome season-ending leg injury in Miami’s 27-21 win over the Jets on Sept. 29.

Hill underwent surgery the next day for a reported knee dislocation, torn ACL and other torn ligaments. It is It is possibly he will undergo multiple surgeries.

The Dolphins signed McDaniel to a contract extension that goes through 2028 last year.

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