5 dream scenarios for Dolphins in 2023 season

No. 4 Dolphins dream scenario: Mike McDaniel wins Coach of the Year

The Dolphins made the controversial decision to hire Mike McDaniel as head coach with one (1) year of NFL coordinator experience. His first season was bumpy for reasons beyond his control, but the 40-year-old is burdened with high expectations as one of the youngest coaches in the league. He was pegged as the next Sean McVay; can the Yale grad-turned-Miami head man deliver?

McDaniel gave fans plenty to write home about last season. The Dolphins finished with the league’s No. 4 passing offense despite four missed games from Tua Tagovailoa. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle were seamlessly incorporated in McDaniel’s high-octane system, with the young head coach unafraid to take on play-calling duties in his first year on the job.

That’s ultimately why the Dolphins invested in McDaniel. He’s supposed to be one of the brightest offensive minds in the sport, a true revolutionary who can keep Miami ahead of the curve. With a year of trial and error under his belt, what better goal to strive for in 2023 than Coach of the Year?

If McDaniel can take home the league’s most prestigious coaching honor, that will naturally imply across-the-board success for Miami. McDaniel won’t win Coach of the Year if the Dolphins are the No. 7 seed again. It will take cultivating Tagovailoa into a top-shelf QB, balancing the offense with a sturdy run game, and working with Fangio to get the defense to a respectable level.

The Dolphins are right on the precipice of something special. McDaniel delivered on a lot of the hype around his offensive intellect and play-calling spirit last season. A big year-two jump could cement him as one of the best head coaches in the NFL.