Ross stays patient with McDaniel as Dolphins sit 0-3; caveats loom
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has not committed to firing Mike McDaniel despite a 0-3 start; two factors—home attendance and locker-room confidence—could tilt the fate of the team’s coach.
The Dolphins are staying with head coach Mike McDaniel for now, but two looming variables could tilt owner Stephen Ross’s thinking. After Thursday’s 31-21 loss to the Bills, Miami fell to 0-3 to begin the season. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, appearing on the Prime Video broadcast, said Ross remains patient and supportive of McDaniel, including a contract extension awarded last year. The caveat: if attendance at Hard Rock Stadium dips sharply or if players show signs they have stopped buying in, Ross could reconsider his stance.
On the field, Miami offered glimpses of progress before Buffalo pulled away. Tua Tagovailoa completed 22 of 34 passes for 146 yards with two touchdowns. The Dolphins went 10-for-15 on third downs and extended several drives, yet a late roughing-the-kicker penalty on Zach Sieler helped swing momentum back to the Bills, and Tagovailoa's late interception sealed Buffalo's win. The loss dropped Miami to 0-3 on the season after an opening 33-8 defeat to the Colts and a Week 2 loss to the Patriots, a start that has intensified scrutiny of McDaniel's rebuilding plan. Miami did manage to keep the game within reach through the fourth quarter, a contrast to the last few seasons when the club had fallen behind early and never recovered against quality opponents.
McDaniel, 42, has guided Miami to a 28-26 regular-season record through two seasons and a playoff miss last year. He has faced questions about his ability to win consistently against teams with winning records, and fan frustration has grown since last season. Some supporters circulated an airplane banner over Hard Rock Stadium calling for his firing, underscoring the intensity of the dispute among the fan base.
Ross’s position remains intact for now, according to Rapoport, with the owner having two years left on a contract extension that was signed last year, totaling about $19 million remaining after this season. The dynamic gives McDaniel a cushion, but the caveat remains: if attendance or locker-room sentiment shifts decisively, Ross could alter course and explore other options.
Looking ahead, the Dolphins will attempt to salvage their season with a home game against the New York Jets next Monday, followed by a trip to face the Carolina Panthers the following week. The schedule offers McDaniel a potential turning point, but it also keeps the spotlight squarely on him as the franchise evaluates whether this retool can yield results in the short term.
With the 0-3 start testing patience at the ownership level, Ross has signaled patience and a willingness to give McDaniel time to implement his plan. Still, two unresolved variables will determine how long that patience lasts. If attendance at Hard Rock Stadium falters or if players stop backing their coach, the dynamics could shift quickly and the Dolphins could face a serious leadership decision in the near future.
