Mike McDaniel Under Fire for Struggling to Handle Tyreek Hill Drama at Dolphins

In December 2024, Tyreek Hill posted, “It’s time for me to go coach,” on his X account, triggering trade speculation, but later clarified it was in anticipation of his “first grey hair”. The commentary didn’t stop there. He’s made public remarks about how the Dolphins operate or should operate, including stating that De’Von Achane wasn’t suited for short-yardage roles. All the while, himself being absent from the team stretches, the latest on August 3– just days after publicly stressed the importance of punctuality and commitment. 

Despite the string of headline-making moments, Mike McDaniel has opted for leniency in his public responses. In January, after Hill told reporters “I’m out, bro…I’m too much of a competitor to be just out there,” following the team’s loss to the Jets, McDaniel downplayed the remarks, calling them postgame “disappointment” statements not worth reading into. When Hill skipped parts of the fourth quarter in the same game, McDaniel said he was only informed the wide receiver was “unavailable” right before the drive. And the latest, when asked about Hill’s public critique of Achane’s usage, McDaniel responded: “I thought it was genius reporting by Tyreek,” adding that Hill’s “suggestion” had already been implemented that day and so all that Tyreek reported was “news that wasn’t news”. 

But Hill’s unchecked behavior isn’t the only concern surfacing under McDaniel’s leadership. The Dolphins followed an 11–6 season in 2023 with a disappointing 8–9 record in 2024, missing the playoffs entirely. That capped a three-year stretch in which McDaniel has gone 28–23 as head coach, with zero playoff wins, despite inheriting one of the league’s most explosive offenses and two Pro Bowl-caliber receivers. While the media has largely embraced McDaniel’s unorthodox personality and viral press moments, not everyone shares the enthusiasm. One of the more direct critiques came from Colin Cowherd, who used a recent segment of The Herd to break down what he views as the deeper, structural failures in Miami’s locker room and on the field: 

“Do you think Belichick would put up with that? Belichick would have moved off that guy. I mean, Andy Reid did move off that guy.” He emphasized the absence of consequences for missing team stretches– which appear to be a one-off thing, but have quoted to be “rarely attended, and that includes his 2 1,700 yard seasons,” by, Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald. Cowheard continued: “You’ve got to show up every day, be on time, and then he wasn’t on time. And he’s never really punished. I just think the best coaches in this league set a certain standard. But nobody calls Mike McDaniel out.” He then zoomed out to examine how the Dolphins’ structure and results under McDaniel compare to his predecessor:

He described Brian Flores as “rough,” not media-friendly, but “an unbelievable coach”, adding, “I think he’s the best defensive coordinator in the league.” Citing The Athletic’s 2025 coaching staff rankings, which reportedly placed Flores’ Minnesota staff at No. 1, Cowherd noted the irony of how a less likable coach built more substance. “Eight games into his Miami stay, Brian Flores had established elite special teams and elite defence. What am I, three, four years into Mike McDaniel? What are they?” He then drew a statistical contrast: 

“There have been 14 different head coaches that have made the playoffs since he arrived in Miami. He’s not one of them.” and McDaniel remains a media favorite in spite of it. For Cowherd, the issue isn’t just performance, it’s the illusion of progress, reinforced by charisma and quirks rather than culture. Now, McDaniel’s next move won’t just define his next season with Dolphins, it may decide whether the locker room still listens.