The disappointing start to the season for the Miami Dolphins has fueled intense speculation about the future of Head Coach Mike McDaniel, and key data suggests that ownership is nearing a decision to make a change. According to ESPN NFL Insider Jeremy Fowler, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and the ownership group are hesitant to fire McDaniel, whom they personally like, and are not actively looking for an excuse to move on. However, Fowler reported that the definitive trigger for a move would be negative “economic factors,” such as dwindling attendance and, most importantly, fan interest and viewership ratings. This financial trigger, which Ross, like all NFL owners, is highly attuned to, now appears to be flashing red.
A post by local insider Barry Jackson highlighted a local Dolphins TV rating as low as 8.5 on a recent Sunday, a “horrifically bad” number signifying that nearly 92% of local homes chose not to watch the game. This drastic drop in viewership is clearly a significant indicator that fan apathy has officially set in, a critical point for a South Florida franchise where there are many entertainment alternatives. The loss of the stay-at-home fan base and viewers on TV is a leading indicator that precedes declines in other areas, such as season ticket holder engagement.
Despite having a roster stacked with exciting talent like Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, and De’Von Achane, the team’s poor performance and inability to translate potential into wins have caused the fan base to tune out. This situation, where a talented team is consistently underperforming, strongly points to coaching as the problem rather than a talent deficit. It’s important to note that given the team’s strong personnel and the offensive focus, the lack of success must be attributed to the coaching staff’s inability to get the team to perform up to its potential. Even McDaniel appears checked out in recent press conferences. Given the disastrous television ratings, paired with insider reports regarding Ross’s dependence on economic indicators, the consensus is that Mike McDaniel’s departure is imminent, likely in a matter of days rather than weeks. Many believe the move could happen as soon as the Monday after the upcoming game against the Chargers to allow the team to reset and to position the franchise first in the head coaching search.
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