The Miami Dolphins have hired San Francisco 49ers' offensive coordinator, Mike McDaniel as their next head coach. The story was initially broken by ESPN's Adam Schefter.
McDaniel, who is only 38-years-old, will be the next coach in Miami after the firing of Brian Flores was followed by an explosive lawsuit against the NFL and the Dolphins organization for racial discrimination. This will be McDaniels first stint as a head coach, taking over a team that hasn't made the playoffs since 2016, and hasn't won the AFC East in almost 15 years.
McDaniel is the first minority hire in the coaching cycle. The 49ers will also receive two third-round compensatory picks. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Miami had come down to Cowboys OC Kellen Moore and McDaniel.
The hiring of McDaniel will take a little bit of heat of a Dolphins organization that is in hot water with Flores lawsuit allegations. The suit alleges that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross told Flores he would pay him $100,000 for every loss during the 2019 season so they could get the first pick in the NFL Draft.
With the hiring of McDaniel in Miami, there are only two current head coaching vacancies: the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints. One of the biggest questions for McDaniel is how can he transform the Dolphins' offense which ranked 25th in the league. Most people believe Tua Tagovailoa will be the starter next season.
McDaniel was a part of that amazing Washington coaching staff back in 2012. The staff included McDaniel, who was an offensive assistant, Kyle Shanahan (OC), Matt LaFLeur (QBs), and Sean McVay (TEs). McDaniel was part of a much-ballyhooed 2012 Washington coaching staff that included Kyle Shanahan (OC), Matt LaFleur (QBs) and Sean McVay (TEs) while McDaniel served as an offensive assistant. Washington made the playoffs that year but surprisingly the next season, went 3-13.
With the hiring of McDaniel, who is biracial, I will be interested to hear some of the conversations surrounding his background and the Rooney Rule.
Follow Jasper Jones on Twitter: @jonesj2342
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