The Las Vegas Raiders will not only be in Miami to watch potential No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza lead Indiana against the hometown Hurricanes, but they will also interview former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel earlier in the day, per NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.
McDaniel would be the latest head coaching candidate to interview with the organization, joining Kevin Stefanski, Matt Nagy, Davis Webb, Vance Joseph, Klint Kubiak, Jesse Minter, Ejiro Evero, Jeff Hafley, Chris Shula, Nate Scheelhaase, and Mike LaFleur.
The Raiders went 3-14 in 2025, a record that would lead to head coach Pete Carroll’s dismissal after just one season with the team.
McDaniel was 35-33 in his four years with the Dolphins, with two playoff appearances.
A frustrating start to the 2025 campaign, an injury to wide receiver Tyreek Hill, inconsistent play from Tua Tagovailoa and a deteriorating relationship with his starting quarterback led to a 7-10 finish and McDaniel’s departure from the organization.
While a head coaching position is not out of the question, McDaniel rose to prominence around the league for his work as offensive coordinator with the 2021 San Francisco 49ers.
With several playoff-caliber teams looking for a new offensive coordinator, McDaniel would be better suited to remind the league of what captured their attention in the first place and join a team like the Philadelphia Eagles or Detroit Lions before returning to the sidelines as a head coach.
Prediction: McDaniel joins a playoff-ready squad as an offensive coordinator, with potential head coaching opportunities in 2027