Mike McDaniel
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Mike McDaniel was protected even though general manager Chris Grier was let go Friday.
The head coach of the Miami Dolphins got a long a weekend to adjust to the news of his boss being fired.
So Mike McDaniel opened up about the firing of Chris Grier, which happened Friday ahead of the trade deadline Tuesday.
The Dolphins were routed 28-6 by the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night to fall to 2-7 on the season. Yet, after the loss, McDaniel was given assurances that he would coach the rest of the season and that Grier would fall on the sword for the team’s woeful season.
The Dolphins will host the rival Buffalo Bills (6-2) on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
Chris Grier Being Fired Was ‘An Emotional Toll’ For Mike McDaniel
McDaniel was told directly by Dolphins owner Stephen Ross that Grier was being fired and that he would be the head coach for the remainder of the season.
So even though the Dolphins coach processed the news, and quickly moved on to game prep to take on arguably their biggest rivals, he opened up about the weight of losing his boss.
“Chris is a guy that I’ve worked with every day since I’ve been here,” McDaniel said. “I’m a human being, and whether it’s football or life things, that’s an emotional toll when you realize things are going to be different.”
But McDaniel also noted how quickly he needed to move on to avoid getting caught up in those emotions.
“None of my job, and what people depend on me for, has anything to do with any of my feelings. It’s irrelevant,” McDaniel said. “My job, as it stands, is to be the head football coach and to make sure that I have a group of individuals as empowered as a team as possible so we can go to the inevitable game on Sunday at 1 o’clock and give ourselves the best chance to win.
“I try to be as disciplined as possible to understand what is required of me, where my brain needs to be at, and my focus has been on having a team learn from the lessons today so that we can apply the lessons and our preparation toward Buffalo on Wednesday. That’s kind of where I’m at.”
Mike McDaniel: Champ Kelly ‘Adds Value’ With Work Ethic
Champ Kelly was the interim general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023 and 2024 before joining Miami’s front office this season. Kelly has already made his presence felt as general manager with the trade of EDGE rusher Jaelen Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles.
McDaniel has seen the interim GM’s work ethic first hand this year and how Kelly will be useful.
“I think he’s a guy that adds value through how he comes to work every day,” McDaniel said. “He has energy and is very team-oriented and has history in this particular type of scenario, having been interim GM once before, and take those lessons and help us collectively work together to do the best team for the football team moving forward.
“I think he’s a person that is well-equipped both professionally and who he is as a person to take on this challenge.”