Miami Dolphins finalize deal to hire next head coach

Following the Pro Bowl, the Miami Dolphins announced that they had finalized a deal to hire their next head coach to replace Brian Flores. The Dolphins have named San Francisco 49ers’ offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel their head coach, per a release on the team’s Twitter account.

We have agreed to terms with Mike McDaniel. Welcome to Miami, Coach! pic.twitter.com/Hk5gIQsc6l

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) February 6, 2022

Miami Dolphins find new head coach

After a coaching search that has become plagued with accusations from their former head coach Brian Flores, Miami has found his replacement. While the details have not been made available yet, an additional report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport seemed to indicate Miami would be giving something in return for the 49ers’ talent.

“The Dolphins hire the first minority coach of the cycle and the 49ers receive 2 third-round compensatory picks. Mike McDaniel is biracial,” explained Rapoport.

The 37-year-old McDaniel had just finished his fifth season with the 49ers, spending the previous four seasons as their run game coordinator and run game specialist. McDaniel has built a reputation as a football genius in his short tenure with San Francisco, something that the Dolphins are hoping to capitalize on.

The NFL has been the subject of heavy criticism after a class-action lawsuit was filed by former Dolphins coach Brian Flores, claiming the league has racial issues with their hiring practices for coaches and office staff. Adding to the drama, of the nine head coaching positions vacant this offseason there had been six-straight white head coaches hired.

ESPN’s broadcast of the Pro Bowl even dedicated an entire segment of their pre-game coverage to the possibility that the NFL could have all nine coaching positions filled without a single minority coach being hired. Prior to Sunday’s hiring, the only current minority coach in the entire league was Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

If Tomlin had remained the only Black head coach heading into the 2022 season, it would be the fewest Black head coaches in the NFL since 1991, when Art Shell led the Raiders.

As the NFL’s initial response to Flores’ lawsuit stated that they believed there was no merit to his allegations about racial issues, Goodell sent an official memo to all 32 teams on Saturday indicating the opposite. Goodell’s memo acknowledged that the hiring results for minority candidates this offseason was “unacceptable,” stating the league would “solicit input from current and former players and coaches,” to assist in reviewing the league’s diversity policies and initiatives.