Mike McDaniel

Mike McDaniel was born in Aurora, Colorado, in 1983. He attended Yale University, where he played wide receiver and earned a degree in history. McDaniel began his NFL coaching career as an intern for the Denver Broncos in 2005, at the age of 22. After his internship, he joined the Houston Texans as an offensive assistant from 2006 to 2008, working under three different offensive coordinators. He then spent two seasons (2009-2010) as the running backs coach for the Sacramento Mountain Lions in the United Football League, gaining additional experience.

Throughout his career, McDaniel established himself as a respected offensive mind, particularly in run scheme development. He was an offensive assistant for the Washington Commanders from 2011 to 2012, later becoming their wide receivers coach in 2013. He continued as a wide receivers coach for the Cleveland Browns in 2014 before joining the Atlanta Falcons as an offensive assistant for the 2015-2016 seasons. During his tenure with the Falcons, the team achieved significant offensive success, including leading the NFL in scoring in 2016 and advancing to Super Bowl LI. This period was instrumental in his development, working closely with key offensive personnel.

McDaniel’s career saw significant progression when he joined the San Francisco 49ers in 2017 as the run game coordinator. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2021, showcasing his strategic capabilities. Under his guidance, the 49ers’ offense consistently ranked among the league’s best in rushing. On February 7, 2022, McDaniel was named the 11th head coach of the Miami Dolphins. In his first two seasons, he led the Dolphins to back-to-back playoff appearances in 2022 and 2023, a first for the franchise in over two decades, demonstrating his immediate impact and leadership.