The worst place for an organization and fan base to find itself is in a place of apathy. That disinterest seems to have fully infected the Miami franchise now.
The Dolphins looked like a team that didn’t care to be at Huntington Bank Field as the Cleveland Browns (2-5) embarrassed Miami, 31-6. It’s the latest in a string of poor performances to start the 2025 season that have Fins fans ready for some serious organizational changes.
As Miami drops to 1-6, here’s three immediate overreactions from the Dolphins’ loss in Cleveland.
Mike McDaniel is fired before the Dolphins travel to the Atlanta Falcons
Mike McDaniel’s job status has been hanging over the Dolphins all season long like a dark cloud. Honestly, Miami could have justifiably pulled the plug after its season-opening loss at the Indianapolis Colts where the Dolphins just looked lifeless in a 33-8 blowout loss.
Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
Reports were already out earlier this month that McDaniel was on “very thin ice” with Dolphins owner Stephen Ross. After how Sunday played out, the Dolphins just can’t let this continue. Ross will have seen enough. This team has quit on McDaniel.
In a battle of 1-5 football teams coming in, the Dolphins got absolutely rocked. The hourglass has run empty on McDaniel.
For Miami fans hoping for a new head coach, get ready to see your wish rewarded. McDaniel will be fired before the Dolphins square off against the Atlanta Falcons next week.
Miami is stuck with Tua Tagovailoa
Tua Tagovailoa had a terrible game on Sunday, completing just 12-of-23 passes for 100 yards and throwing three more interceptions, including a 34-yard pick-six. Tagovailoa has almost thrown as many interceptions (10) as touchdowns (11) this season.
It seems crystal clear that Miami isn’t going anywhere fast with Tagovailoa as its franchise signal-caller. There’s just been too many instances this season where he’s had chances to direct Miami to wins and has instead floundered in the game’s biggest moments. And, of course, Sunday was just a complete disaster.
Here’s Miami’s biggest problem now: The Dolphins are stuck with Tagovailoa through at least 2026. Nobody is trading for Tagovailoa with the amount of money he’s due over the rest of his contract. If and when Miami makes the decision to release Tagovailoa after the 2026 season, he will carry a $34.8 million dead cap figure per Spotrac.
That Tagovailoa contract has Miami in a tough spot for the foreseeable future.
It’s time to deal Bradley Chubb
During a season that’s twisted this rotten, are there really any major overreactions win or lose? Probably not. And this takeaway won’t get categorized as some major overreaction.
But, it’s time for the Dolphins to start dealing away veteran pieces. One name that has drawn some interest is Dolphins edge rusher Bradley Chubb. The 29-year-old carries cap hits north of $31 million over the next two seasons and would bring Miami some much-needed draft capital.
It shouldn’t stop with Chubb either. This feels like the time for a complete organizational reboot.