Mike McDaniel shrugs off plane banner calling for his firing after Dolphins fall to 0-2

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Monday he paid no mind to an airplane banner calling for his dismissal as the team continued its 0-2 start with a 33-27 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday.

The banner, which read “Fire Grier. Fire McDaniel,” flew over Hard Rock Stadium before the game as the Dolphins struggled through a second consecutive defeat to open the season. McDaniel said during his postgame news conference that his focus remained on coaching the game rather than responding to fan protests.

"I was coaching and calling a football game," McDaniel said. "I wasn’t spending my time considering what the fans were doing at all. Fans want their team to win, so I figure that if we win football games, I don’t think it’s personal. I think they want to win, and so do I."

The stadium erupted in loud boos late in the game as Miami’s defense failed to register a single stop in a stretch that allowed the Patriots to overcome an early deficit. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw an interception with just over two minutes remaining, sealing the Dolphins’ loss.

Miami’s offense showed flashes, including a 47-yard reception from All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill early in the third quarter — Hill’s longest catch since the 2024 season opener against Jacksonville and his first gain of 30 yards or more since then. The play ended a run of limited production for Hill that had fueled trade speculation following the season-opening loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

A GoFundMe organized by Dolphins fans to finance the banner raised $1,898, according to the Palm Beach Post. The aircraft flew the message over the stadium before Sunday’s contest.

Tagovailoa, who was met with boos during and after the game, said the reaction is part of the sport.

"It’s part of the game," Tagovailoa said. "The fans pay money, their hard-earned money to come and see their team play, and we go out there and we don’t look the part as we have previous years. So it’s all understandable, and it comes with the game. You get the boos, you get the cheers. It’s like anything else, you get the highs, you get the lows. But for us mentally as players, we’ve got to stay even keeled. We’ve got to stay together. We’ve got to continue to trust one another and build off of whatever this game was."

Miami opened the season with a 33-8 loss to the Colts on Sept. 7, when Tagovailoa committed three turnovers and the offense totaled 211 yards. That performance intensified scrutiny of the coaching staff and front office and contributed to questions about McDaniel’s job security.

McDaniel has faced persistent questions from media and fans since the season began, but he declined to treat the banner as a personal attack.

The Dolphins will seek their first win when they travel to Buffalo to face the 2-0 Bills on Thursday night. The short week offers little margin for error as Miami attempts to halt early-season momentum slipping away.

The team’s immediate focus, McDaniel said, remains preparation and improvement rather than outside noise.

"If we win football games," he said, "I don’t think it’s personal. I think they want to win, and so do I."