There all the time appears to be one shock firing on the finish of a given season. On this newest cycle, it was the Miami Dolphins, who had the NFL’s collective jaw on the ground when phrase acquired out that that they had fired head coach Brian Flores after three seasons. Whereas there will probably be loads of time dedicated to that puzzling choice, the twine has already been reduce and the Dolphins are actually available in the market for a brand new particular person to guide their staff.
Beneath, we’ll dive right into a handful of candidates that might be of curiosity to Miami because it steps ahead into this new period within the franchise’s historical past.
Jim Harbaugh
Present job: Head coach, Michigan
This connection was made nearly in lockstep with the information that Flores had been fired. Dolphins proprietor Stephen Ross has fancied Harbaugh for years, relationship again to when he tried to rent him from Stanford again in 2011 earlier than Harbaugh elected to to signal with the 49ers. With Ross within the teaching market as soon as once more and Harbaugh’s future at Michigan reportedly unclear, it would not take an excessive amount of of a leap to say that this might be a potential marriage.
It needs to be famous, nonetheless, that Ross — a College of Michigan alum and donor — was requested about this chance on Monday and he stated: “I am not going to be the one that takes Jim Harbaugh away from Michigan.” That stated, whereas Ross could not pry Harbaugh out of Ann Arbor; if his baggage are already packed as he appears for an additional alternative within the NFL, it would not be stunning to see him strive as soon as extra to signal him.
Byron Leftwich
Present job: Offensive coordinator, Buccaneers
If the Dolphins need a extra offensive-minded coach to succeed Flores (a former Patriots defensive coordinator), they might look in-state at Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich. He is among the hotter names on the market this hiring cycle and has helped the Tampa Bay offense hum as one of many higher items within the NFL whereas teaching Tom Brady.
The Bucs led the NFL in passing yards and passing touchdowns this season, whereas additionally rating because the No. 1 offense within the league in DVOA. In 2020, Leftwich’s offense averaged 384 yards per recreation and 30.8 factors (third most within the NFL).
If Miami is searching for somebody with expertise, nonetheless, and wish to shrink back from hiring one other first-time head coach, Leftwich will not be the reply as he is solely been the Tampa Bay OC for 3 seasons. Previous to that, he was the Cardinals quarterbacks coach from 2017-2018 and the interim offensive coordinator in 2018.
Josh McDaniels
Present job: Offensive coordinator, Patriots
If the Dolphins wish to dip their toe again into the Invoice Belichick teaching tree, Josh McDaniels might be an choice. Just like Leftwich, McDaniels brings an offensive mindset to the desk, but in addition has some head teaching expertise from his days main the Denver Broncos. McDaniels is not as scorching of a reputation as he is been in years’s previous, however continues to be a powerful candidate in-waiting for some group if he would not ascend to move coach in New England at any time when Belichick elects to retire.
This season, McDaniels was in a position to have the Patriots offense produce at a excessive stage with a rookie quarterback in Mac Jones beneath heart. New England’s offense ranked ninth within the NFL in DVOA and their 27.2 factors per recreation common ranked sixth all through the league.
Doug Pederson
Most up-to-date job: Head coach, Eagles
If they need somebody with a successful pedigree and might carry that tradition to the locker room shortly, the Dolphins might look in direction of Doug Pederson. The previous Eagles head coach took the yr off after he was fired from Philadelphia on the finish of final season. Pederson does have a powerful resume to carry to the desk as he’s 46-39-1 as a head coach (regular-season and playoff) in his profession and was in a position to assist the Eagles to its first-ever Tremendous Bowl title again in 2017. That yr, Philly ranked No. 3 in factors and No. 7 in DVOA within the NFL because the membership went 13-3. Pederson is also a coach that ought to be capable of assist develop the quarterback place whether or not it’s Tua Tagovailoa or whoever the group decides would be the man beneath heart going ahead. In any case, he did have Wentz taking part in at an MVP stage previous to his damage again in 2017 after which coached Nick Foles up by a miraculous playoff run that resulted in a title. Not many different coaches have that sort of background.
