Miami Dolphins fans have made it perfectly clear they want head coach Mike McDaniel and GM Chris Grier to be fired.
As fans gathered at Hard Rock Stadium for their game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, a banner was flown overhead that simply read: ‘Fire McDaniel. Fire Grier.’
It comes amid mounting frustration at the current regime, which reached new heights after their 33-8 humiliation by the Indianapolis Colts last week.
Anger among the fan base was already bubbling away after a disastrous 2024 season in which Miami started 2-6, went 6-3 down the stretch and missed the playoffs.
To compound things, the Dolphins haven’t won a playoff game in more than two decades.
McDaniel called the performance in Indianapolis embarrassing and acknowledged fans who have expressed frustration with the state of the franchise.
Dolphins fans flew a banner from a plane, demanding Mike McDaniel and Chris Grier be fired
It comes amid mounting frustration after their 33-8 humiliation by the Indianapolis Colts
This is the fifth season of McDaniel’s tenure and it hasn’t lived up to the expectations of success with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa also struggling.
‘We have to improve from the last performance,’ McDaniel said. ‘But we have to improve in general like every other team does or you get left in the dust.
‘So I think one of 17 is one of 17. And if that type of game doesn´t show up ever again, that´s the only way you can make it worth it, because otherwise it´s just miserable for miserable´s sake.
‘I think the positive is that that was a miserable experience.’
Fortunately for Miami, they do have history on their side against the Patriots.
The Dolphins have won eight of the past nine meetings, and Tagovailoa has never lost a game to New England as Miami’s starter, going 7-0.
With a win on Sunday, McDaniel would become the first Dolphins coach to win six of his first seven games against the Patriots.
