Next on Deck: Who Are the Front Runners for Miami’s Head Coaching Job? -

When the Miami Dolphins concluded their season with a win over the New England Patriots, it was all smiles as the team secured its second winning season in as many years and swept its bitter rival for the first time since 2000.

The Dolphins’ season was effectively over and that means it was the offseason. During the annual Black Monday, known for the NFL firing of numerous head coaches year after year, there is always one surprise team that axes its head coach.

Miami was 2022’s surprise axing.

Black Monday Brought the Scythe to Flores’ Door

Head coach Brian Flores found himself on the outs and was relieved of duty, leaving the Dolphins needing to begin a search for the second time in three years. Rumored reports of ire between Flores and General Manager Chris Grier, as well as between Flores and starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has since surfaced, with many thinking that as the reason for his firing. Owner Stephen Ross said he didn’t feel communication and collaboration was there between Flores and other members of the front office.

“I think if you look at it, it’s really communication and collaboration. I don’t think there is any organization in this country that unless you have excellent communication and collaborative efforts within the whole organization, that you can really win and sustain yourself in the long term,” Ross said. “I made the decision today to part ways with Brian Flores. After evaluating where we are as an organization and what we need going forward to improve, I determined key dynamics of our football organization weren’t functioning at a level I want it to be.”

Flores finishes his career in Miami after three years with a record of 24-25.

Who Are the Names in the Running to be Miami’s Next Head Coach?

Now that Flores has left, many questions still remain about who should be the next head coach, despite multiple vacancies in the NFL being filled and names coming off “the board”.

The decisions range from almost every Offensive Coordinator in the playoffs to every Defensive Coordinator watching the games at home. Below is a list of coaches who not just get a chance, but will do well with this young group and who are the current favorites.

The Favorites-

Brian Daboll, Buffalo Bills OC

Leslie Frazier, Buffalo Bills DC

Kellen Moore, Dallas Cowboys OC

In The Running-

Vance Joseph, Arizona Cardinals DC

Mike McDaniel, San Francisco 49ers OC

It’s important to note that Dallas Cowboys’ DC Dan Quinn was a favorite for Miami, too, but has recently come out and said he is staying in Dallas.

Kellen Moore has not come out and said he wants to stay in Dallas, but so far, it sill looks like the Dolphins are honing in on Bills’ Daboll or Frazier due mostly because of their ongoing success with the team’s rival. Many reports are also saying that Daboll is the clear-cut favorite to become the next head coach for the Dolphins, but will he come off the board before Ross pulls the trigger?

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All Candidates Bring New Angle to Potential Leadership Role

After reading about all three, all can be valuable candidates for the head coaching job because they can all get the job done in their own way.

Daboll has the experience and the know-how from creating Buffalo’s current QB, Josh Allen. He can use similar fundamentals to translate that into developing Tagovailoa and in hopes to get him to be like Allen with some minor differences. Daboll and Tagovailoa can pair to run an explosive, fun offense.

Frazier can continue keeping the defense right with the way Flores built it up. This will allow the offense time to build. With such a young and dominant defense, Frazier can continue using all the young pieces in the secondary and allow Miami’s draft and free agency periods to focus more on the other side of the football – which it needs.

Finally, Moore can help Tagovailoa develop right off the bat. The defense is mostly set, minus a few needed pieces, but Moore would begin working on Tagovailoa game by game in his first season. The defense would also be able to focus on being a backup to the young signal-caller again like the secondary was in the last two seasons.

McDaniel on the Waiting List for an Interview

The only person in this list that the Dolphins have not been able to hire so far is Mike McDaniel due to NFL rules. With San Francisco in the NFC Championship game this Sunday, and still in their current season, McDaniel is not eligible for any interviews until the 49ers season ends.

As of Thursday, Ross said he is still not in any hurry to hire Miami’s next head coach.

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– Alessandro Senatore is a Sports Contributor for Full Press Coverage Miami Dolphins who specializes in the NFL Draft and fantasy sports. Like and follow on Follow @AM_Senatore Follow @FPC_Dolphins and Facebook.