.jpg)
6 hours ago
2
The Dolphins’ 2025–2026 season isn’t looking particularly promising following the trade of Jonnu Smith, who is coming off the best season of his career. On top of that, the organization seems to be losing confidence in quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as time goes on.
“What is interesting is that Miami may not have the same confidence they had in him two years ago. They could have created $19 million in cap room with a simple restructure, but opted not to do so, citing they didn't need the extra money,” Phin Phanatic’s Brian Miller wrote.
Head coach Mike McDaniel also enters the year on a hot seat—and the pressure is mounting even further after the recent trade.
“All of those now put a tremendous amount of pressure on McDaniel, who is coming off his first under .500 season with the Dolphins, who were also on the outside looking in on the playoffs. We already listed McDaniel as a head coach with one of the hottest seats in the NFL entering 2025, and the road to save his job just got even more difficult,” CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan wrote.
As speculation swirls around McDaniel’s future, Paul Finebaum offered up a bold replacement idea: legendary coach Nick Saban.
“I want to go back to Nick Saban, if I could divert for a second, because that story came out of here yesterday from one of his former players,” Finebaum said on First Take. “And I know a lot of people thought maybe he would go to LSU. Nick Saban is not going to LSU … I don’t know what you think about this, but I have the perfect job for Nick Saban. 45 minutes from his brand new home in Jupiter, go down to Miami, shake that system up.”
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
While it may seem far-fetched, ESPN’s Greg McElroy added fuel to the speculation on Monday, saying there are people close to Saban who believe he might return to coaching. After a dominant run at Alabama, the idea of a second chance—and a Miami reunion—could be franchise-altering for the Dolphins.
English (US)