Miami Dolphins fans have grown increasingly frustrated with Mike McDaniel since the end of last season, but the coach insists he is not sweating the criticism.
The Dolphins fell to 0-2 with a tough 33-27 home loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday. Prior to the game, a plane few above Hard Rock Stadium in Miami carrying a banner that said “Fire Grier, Fire McDaniel.” The message was one urging the Dolphins to part ways with both McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier.
It appears the person who paid for the banner raised the money through a GoFundMe campaign that was launched earlier this month.
McDaniel was asked about the banner in his postgame press conference on Sunday. He said he was too focused on the game to notice but that he doesn’t think the calls for him to be fired are personal.
“I was coaching and calling a football game, so 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,” McDaniel said.
🎥 Mike McDaniel on the 'Fire Grier Fire McDaniel' banner: "I was coaching and calling a football game. I wasn't spending my time considering what the fans were doing." (@MiamiDolphins) #PhinsUp pic.twitter.com/1Q6LK7cn3v
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) September 14, 2025
The way the Dolphins lost to the Patriots was perhaps more concerning than the loss itself. Miami took a 27-23 lead on a punt return touchdown with 7:18 remaining in the game. They then gave the lead right back by giving up a touchdown on the ensuing kickoff. Tua Tagovailoa threw an interception on the next drive, and New England kicked a field goal to go up 33-27.
Even after the special teams blunder and Tagovailoa’s pick, the Dolphins still had a chance to win. They got the ball back with 1:47 left in great field position at the 40-yard line, but they committed multiple pre-snap penalties before Tagovailoa was sacked twice to end the game.
There was talk after Miami’s 33-8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1 the McDaniel might not survive the season. Tagovailoa said after Sunday’s loss that he understands why fans are booing.
The boos are only going to grow louder after the loss to the Patriots, who had not beaten the Dolphins in Miami since 2019.