Mike McDaniel’s next move appears to be set — and it puts him on track for a return to Miami to face the Dolphins sooner than anyone expected

The Mike McDaniel revenge game appears to be on in 2026!

Kyle Crabbs — NFL National Writer

Jan 21, 2026 8:26 AM EST

It sounds like both sides of the split between the Miami Dolphins and their old head coach, Mike McDaniel, have settled into their futures quite nicely. The Miami Dolphins committed to Jeff Hafley to serve as the team’s new head coach, whereas Mike McDaniel has been jet-setting across the country and looking for his next stop. Barring some unforeseen circumstances, he’s found one. And it won’t take the Dolphins very long to get a look at McDaniel in his new setup.

McDaniel reportedly withdrew his name from the Cleveland Browns head coaching job on Tuesday shortly before the news broke that he’s currently slated to become the Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator for the 2026 season. The Chargers, it’s worth noting, are scheduled to return to Hard Rock Stadium in 2026.

Barring an unexpected change, Mike McDaniel will return to Hard Rock Stadium in 2026

We’ll get to see Mike McDaniel coach in Miami in 2026 after all! The 2026 schedule is still months away from completion but the home/aways are well documented and built out years in advance. So as long as McDaniel doesn’t get a head coaching offer, look for him to come back to town with Justin Herbert and company this fall.

McDaniel has interviewed for head coach openings in Las Vegas and Baltimore — the Dolphins play the whole AFC West in 2026 so an offer from the Raiders would still set up the proverbial “revenge game” this season; although Miami travels to Las Vegas. Baltimore is not among the scheduled opponents Miami will play this season.

At this point it would be a surprise for McDaniel to nail down a head coaching job, which would seem to give even more indication that Miami made the right decision about making a change in a vacuum. There were nine other head coach openings across the league. If McDaniel’s outlook was (maybe) the Browns opening and that’s it? McDaniel was also reportedly bypassed for the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator spot as the Lions felt he wasn’t the “right fit”. McDaniel got 4 years of experience at the helm in Miami but his resume and outlook still had enough holes to miss out on a third of the league looking for head coaches (and a major OC role). Instead, he appears poised to take a very good assistant gig that would afford him a chance to stick it to his former team this fall.