MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins today announced Mike McDaniel
has been named the 14th head coach in franchise history.
McDaniel has 15 years of NFL coaching experience and most recently
spent five seasons (2017-21) with the San Francisco 49ers. He was the
team’s run game specialist in 2017 before being promoted to run game
coordinator in 2018 and again to offensive coordinator in 2021.
In McDaniel’s first season as offensive coordinator, the 49ers
finished seventh in the NFL in total offense (375.7 yards per game)
and 13th in scoring offense (25.1 points per game) while advancing to
the NFC Championship game. San Francisco’s offense was balanced,
ranking seventh in rushing (127.4) and 12th in passing (248.3). Wide
receiver Deebo Samuel recorded 1,405 receiving yards, the most by a
49er since Terrell Owens in 2001, and fifth-most in the NFL that
season. Samuel’s 1,770 scrimmage yards were the most by a 49er since
Frank Gore in 2006. The San Francisco offense had four players earn
Pro Bowl selections – Samuel, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, tight end George
Kittle and tackle Trent Williams. Williams also earned All-Pro honors.
McDaniel served as San Francisco’s run game coordinator from 2018-20.
During that time, the 49ers were fifth in the NFL in rushing,
averaging 127.0 yards per game, despite having a different leading
rusher in all three seasons.
In 2020, San Francisco had several injuries at the running back
position and still finished in the top half of the league with 118.1
rushing yards per game. Running back Jeff Wilson Jr. led the team with
600 yards on the ground despite starting just three games and missing
some time on injured reserve. Running back Raheem Mostert had 521
rushing yards in just eight games. Juszczyk and Williams earned Pro
Bowl selections and Williams was also named All-Pro.
McDaniel helped the 49ers have one of the league’s most effective
rushing attacks in 2019 as San Francisco went 13-3, winning the NFC
and advancing to Super Bowl LIV. The 49ers had the NFL’s second-ranked
rushing offense, averaging 144.1 yards per game. Three different
running backs rushed for more than 500 yards – Mostert (772), Matt
Breida (623) and Tevin Coleman (544). Juszczyk was named to the Pro
Bowl at the end of the season.
In 2018, the 49ers had four different backs rush for at least 200
yards. Breida led the way with a career-high of 814 rushing yards just a
year after he was an undrafted college free agent. His 5.32 yards per
carry ranked fourth among all NFL players that season. The 49ers
finished 13th in the league in rushing (118.9). Juszczyk was named to
the Pro Bowl at the end of the season.
As a run game specialist in 2017, McDaniel helped the 49ers rush for
1,662 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns in a season where they were
forced to use three different starting quarterbacks due to injury.
Running back Carlos Hyde led the way with 938 yards and a career-high
eight rushing touchdowns. Juszczyk and tackle Joe Staley earned Pro
Bowl selections.
Prior to San Francisco, McDaniel spent two seasons (2015-16) as an
offensive assistant with the Atlanta Falcons. During his tenure, the
Falcons had the second-best total offense (394.9) and third best
scoring offense (27.5) in the NFL. Atlanta’s passing attack ranked
second (284.5).
In 2016, Atlanta led the NFL in scoring average 33.8 points per
game, en route to finishing 11-5 and winning the NFC to advance to
Super Bowl LI. The Falcons had the second-best total offense (415.8),
third-best passing offense (295.3) and fifth-best rushing offense
(120.5). Quarterback Matt Ryan passed for a franchise-record 4,944
yards, which was second in the NFL that season. Wide receiver Julio
Jones was second in the league with 1,409 receiving yards. Four
different Falcons earned Pro Bowl selections – Ryan, Jones, running
back Devonta Freeman and center Alex Mack. Ryan, Jones and Mack also
earned All-Pro honors.
The 2015 Falcons offense ranked sixth in passing (273.7) and seventh
in total offense (374.1). Jones led the NFL with 1,871 receiving
yards, a Falcons franchise record. In his first season as starting
running back, Freeman topped 1,000 yards. Freeman, Jones and fullback
Patrick DiMarco all earned Pro Bowl selections and All-Pro honors.
McDaniel spent the 2014 season as wide receivers coach for the
Cleveland Browns. In his lone season there, wide receiver Andrew
Hawkins had a career-high 824 yards. An undrafted rookie, wide
receiver Taylor Gabriel had 621 receiving yards, which wound up being
the second-highest total in his six-year NFL career. His receiver unit
helped quarterback Brian Hoyer post the only 3,000-yard passing season
of his career.
McDaniel’s first NFL position coach job came in 2013 with Washington
when he was promoted to wide receivers. He spent the 2011-12 seasons
with Washington as an offensive assistant. On that staff, McDaniel
worked with current NFL head coaches Matt LaFleur (Green Bay), Sean
McVay (L.A. Rams) and Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco).
From 2009-10, McDaniel served as running backs coach for the
Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was an
offensive assistant for the Houston Texans from 2006-08. His first NFL
coaching position came as a coaching intern with the Denver Broncos in
2005.
A native of Greeley, Colo., McDaniel played wide receiver at Yale,
where he graduated with a degree in history. He and his wife, Katie,
have one daughter.
