Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel finally addressed the viral photo showing him driving past Elbo Room after Sunday’s 30-13 upset over Buffalo Bills. The image led to endless chatter across social media. Was it really McDaniel doing a victory lap past Bills Mafia’s favorite South Florida hangout?
Nov 9, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Nov 9, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
When reporters pressed him Monday, McDaniel again offered his old shaggy excuse. He neither confirmed nor denied his Elbo Room visit after the win. The victory felt especially satisfying given mounting questions about McDaniel’s job security heading into the matchup.
Mike McDaniel Blames AI for Exaggerating His Drive to Elbo Room
The viral photo is still in everyone’s feed that shows McDaniel or someone who looked like him driving with his window down and arm hanging out. Elbo Room serves as ground zero for Bills fans when Buffalo visits Miami. The Fort Lauderdale beach bar transforms into Bills Mafia South during game weekends.
“That’s why I like the good ol’ days, you know. The throwbacks of yore where you could trust the internet and the images because you know it is pretty detailed that I live in that area. But, AI, right?” McDaniel told reporters. “I live in that area; AI is real; that’s what I got for you.”
HC McDaniel on if he drove by Elbo Room on Sunday after the Dolphins win to troll Bills fans, via @chrisperk:
“I mean, I live in that area. AI is real. That’s what I got for ya.”pic.twitter.com/8XOs9SoakS
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) November 10, 2025
McDaniel owns a house in Fort Lauderdale. Hard Rock Stadium sits about 19 miles from Elbo Room, meaning he would’ve gone out of his way to pass the bar. The coach essentially admitted living nearby while simultaneously suggesting artificial intelligence could’ve doctored the image.
When pressed further, McDaniel refused to give a straight answer. His cryptic response only fueled more speculation about whether he deliberately trolled Bills fans after snapping a seven-game losing streak.
Fans React to McDaniel’s Masterclass in Dodging Questions
Football fans loved McDaniel’s unclear answer, and some think the excuse master is making another excuse even after winning.
One fan wrote, “He cooked the Bills, trolled ’em on the way home, then blamed it on AI 😂”
Another added, “McDaniel gave a playful, cryptic response.”
A third claimed, “This man is a national treasure!!! Protect him from Nicolas Cage at all cost.s”
The fourth noted, “Bro gave the first two excuses that came to mind and then folded under no pressure.”
The Dolphins badly needed Sunday’s W after losing four of their last five games. Whether McDaniel actually drove past Elbo Room isn’t confirmed, but his refusal to deny it felt like a confident victory lap.