Interview date: Monday, Jan. 12
Previous role: McDaniel was the Miami Dolphins’ head coach from 2022-25.
- At the helm of the Dolphins franchise, McDaniel led Miami to back-to-back playoff appearances in 2022 and 2023. This was the first time in over 20 years the franchise had consecutive postseason berths.
- Prior to taking the Miami head coaching job, McDaniel was the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive coordinator in 2021 after being promoted from run game coordinator following the 2020 season.
- Since joining the league in 2015 as an intern with the Denver Broncos, McDaniel has held positions with the Houston Texans (offensive assistant), Washington Redskins (offensive assistant and wide receivers coach), Cleveland Browns (wide receivers coach), and Atlanta Falcons (offensive assistant).
Local connection: As stated above, McDaniel was an offensive assistant with the Falcons from 2015-16, which includes being a part of the staff during the team’s Super Bowl run. Newly announced president of football — Matt Ryan — was the franchise’s quarterback at the time and named league MVP for the 2016 season.
Why he’s a candidate: McDaniel’s resume showcases an individual with broad NFL experience with multiple different organizations, coaches and rosters, plus a track record of early success upon taking over his respective responsibilities.
Within two years of becoming the Miami head coach, McDaniel helped the Dolphins become one of the most productive and powerful offenses in 2023, when they led the league in scoring and yardage and broke franchise records.
Two years after becoming the 49ers’ run game coordinator, McDaniel’s unit finished No. 2 in rushing yards and scored more rushing touchdowns than any team in the league.
It’s well-documented that McDaniel comes from the Mike and Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, which prides itself on creative offensive concepts and a heavy run game emphasis. Combining this with what the Falcons already have in Bijan Robinson, many returning and experienced offensive linemen as well as a developing quarterback in Michael Penix Jr. could create something intriguing. It should be said, too, that McDaniel isn’t so rigid within his scheme to force a player into it, either. He has been known to tailor schemes around players’ strengths, operating in a more fluid capacity with game planning. This could be beneficial for someone like Penix as he develops and grows into his own in 2026.
