For some, it’s the dreadful part of the postseason: the firings that hit after dismal seasons. For others, it’s intriguing, a fresh start amid the chaos. The recent candidate that joined that grim tradition is Miami’s head coach, Mike McDaniel.

Mike McDaniel’s contract details with the Dolphins

“The Dolphins fired Mike McDaniel, per sources,” NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported.

Mike McDaniel’s journey to the NFL sidelines started as an intern with the Denver Broncos in 2005. He climbed the ranks through various assistant roles before landing the head coach position with the Dolphins in 2022. 

McDaniel guided the squad to the playoffs twice, sparking hope among fans. Yet the team did not win a playoff game in those postseason appearances. Still, Miami bet big on him, signing a three-year extension in 2024 that locked him in through 2028.

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That extension quickly turned into a disaster, with Miami stumbling to a 7-10 record this season. Fans and some media commentators publicly called for changes to the coaching staff and at quarterback during the season. Transitioning to deeper issues, the locker room faced turmoil, including Tua publicly calling out teammates for missed meetings.

However, this marked McDaniel’s fourth year leading Miami, so let’s break down what his head coach’s salary looks like.

How much is Mike McDaniel’s salary as the Dolphins HC?

Coaches’ salaries often stay discreet, but reports pegged McDaniel’s pay at $3.5 million to $4.5 million annually. With that new deal signed in 2024, those figures reportedly increased to reflect his growing role.

But the awful season, riddled with interceptions and turnovers, demanded a change.

“After careful evaluation and extensive discussions since the season ended, I have made the decision that our organization is in need of comprehensive change,” Chairman and owner Stephen M. Ross wrote in his statement on Jan. 8.

“I informed Mike McDaniel this morning that he has been relieved of his duties as head coach. I love Mike and want to thank him for his hard work, commitment, and the energy he brought to our organization. Mike is an incredibly creative football mind whose passion for the game and his players was evident every day. I wish him and his family the best moving forward.”

For McDaniel, this season marked his worst, with just seven wins. Still, the firing comes with significant financial backstops that provide some security.

Do the Dolphins still have to pay Mike McDaniel after firing him?

Thanks to last year’s extension, the head coach still has three years left on his term, putting the approximate buyout at somewhere between $12 million and $19 million that the franchise owes McDaniel, per market reports. 

Before landing the head coach job with the Dolphins, McDaniel held various assistant and coordinator roles across multiple teams over the years. All that dedicated hard work and experience added up over time, growing his personal net worth to more than $5 million.

Now, at 42 years old, Mike McDaniel clearly has many productive coaching years still ahead of him in the league. But the road ahead looks especially tough for Miami, with hundreds of big questions hanging over the entire organization this offseason.