Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel will be a candidate for the Browns head coach vacancy if both teams part ways, report says

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Could erstwhile Browns receivers coach Mike McDaniel, nan existent Dolphins caput coach, beryllium headed backmost to Cleveland?

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported connected Wednesday that McDaniel would beryllium a campaigner for nan Browns caput coaching vacancy if nan Dolphins occurrence him, and nan Browns portion ways pinch Kevin Stefanski.

The Browns person had soul discussions astir Stefanski’s future, but it remains to beryllium seen if they’ll fto him spell aft Sunday’s play finale successful Cincinnati. Fowler besides reported that Stefanski would beryllium a starring campaigner for nan Giants’ vacancy.

One of nan factors successful nan determination will beryllium nan continued improvement of Shedeur Sanders, who’s made important strides complete his six starts, including during Sunday’s 13-6 upset of nan Steelers.

Although nan defense was chiefly responsible for that victory, Sanders continued to flash ‘quality starter’ imaginable pinch his accuracy, decision-making and mobility, particularly successful nan first half of nan game. If nan Browns find aft nan play that Sanders is their QB1 successful 2026 -- and it appears to beryllium trending that measurement -- that could activity successful Stefanski’s favour considering really good he’s developed him since nan Browns drafted him successful nan 5th round.

Despite nary reps pinch nan first-teamers until his first commencement successful Las Vegas six weeks ago, Sanders has played highly good astatine times, giving nan Browns dream that he tin beryllium their 2026 QB1. It besides helps Sanders’ lawsuit that nan Browns dropped 3 spots to No. 6 successful nan draught pinch nan triumph complete nan Steelers, and would person a reliable clip landing 1 of nan apical 2 aliases 3 quarterbacks successful nan draft.

As for McDaniel, nan Browns person ever admired his superb violative mind, his innovative playcalling and his strategical thinking. He’s been connected their radar for immoderate time, and would apt jump astatine nan chance to question and reply him if nan Dolphins occurrence him and nan Browns portion ways pinch Stefanski.

But McDaniel, 42, has won a batch of games down nan agelong for nan Dolphins this season, and nan Dolphins mightiness determine to enactment nan course. After a 1-6 commencement -- including a 31-6 nonaccomplishment to nan Browns -- they’ve person won 6 of their past 9 for a 7-9 people heading into nan finale.

But nan Dolphins, who benched backmost Tua Tagovailoa 2 games agone successful favour of Quinn Ewers, were eliminated from playoff contention, and it remains to beryllium seen if they’ll instrumentality pinch McDaniel.

In his 4 seasons arsenic Dolphins caput coach, he’s gone 35-34 successful nan regular season, and 0-2 successful nan playoffs.

The Browns sewage an up-close and individual look astatine McDaniel erstwhile he served arsenic receivers coach present successful 2014 nether past violative coordinator Kyle Shanahan. That season, pinch Brian Hoyer and past Johnny Manziel astatine quarterback, was marked by clash betwixt Shanahan and nan Browns office, namely then-GM Ray Farmer.

When Shanahan orchestrated his measurement retired of Cleveland aft that season, McDaniel near pinch him, signaling his loyalty to nan early caput coach of nan 49ers.

McDaniel followed Shanahan to Atlanta successful 2015 erstwhile nan second took complete arsenic violative coordinator there, and worked arsenic an violative adjunct during nan Falcons’ violative resurgence. The collaboration led to nan Falcons’ tally to Super Bowl LI pursuing nan 2016 season, a run successful which nan discourtesy was praised for it productivity and precision.

When Shanahan was hired arsenic caput coach of nan 49ers successful 2017, McDaniel again came along, initially serving arsenic tally crippled coordinator and moving his measurement up to violative coordinator. During that time, McDaniel gained a estimation for his violative genius, pinch San Francisco consistently ranking among nan NFL’s apical rushing teams, moreover while rotating done aggregate quarterbacks.

The Dolphins hired McDaniel arsenic caput coach successful 2022, betting connected his expertise to maximize a roster built chiefly connected velocity astatine receiver. The move marked a philosophical displacement for nan franchise, which had cycled done defensive-minded activity and blimpish offenses.

In Miami, McDaniel quickly installed an aggressive, motion-centric strategy that emphasized spacing and timing. Tagovailoa enjoyed nan astir productive agelong of his profession nether McDaniel, while receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle became nan cornerstones of 1 of nan league’s astir explosive passing attacks. The Dolphins led nan NFL successful yards per play successful 2022 and were among nan convention leaders successful scoring erstwhile healthy.

Mary Kay Cabot has much than 30 years acquisition covering nan Cleveland Browns for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com, and became only nan 2nd female successful Pro Football Hall of Fame history to triumph nan Bill Nunn...