As the Chicago Bears prepare for their Wild Card clash against the Green Bay Packers, another NFL head coaching job just became available. On Thursday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Miami Dolphins will be moving in a new direction, as they've fired head coach Mike McDaniel after four seasons with the franchise.
Although the last two seasons in South Beach were far from great, there's no denying that McDaniel is now a top candidate that teams would love to add to their coaching staffs. His creativity likely will generate interest in him as a head coach and offensive coordinator, which might create a new issue for the Bears next season.
Bears' Rivals Could Look to Add Mike McDaniel After Dolphins Firing
It's easy to understand why teams around the NFL, especially the NFC, would love to add McDaniel's mind to their coaching ranks. It was only two seasons ago when the 42-year-old offensive guru had the Dolphins torching almost every defense they faced, as they averaged 401.3 total yards (1st) and 29.2 points (2nd) per game during the 2023 campaign.
That resume could be attractive to an NFC North rival like the Detroit Lions, who just fired OC John Morton earlier this week. Considering how playmakers like Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and De'Von Achane thrived under McDaniels' tutelage in Miami, the Lions would probably love to see what he could do with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Jahmyr Gibbs — especially after the dismissed coach has made it clear he respects Detroit HC Dan Campbell.
As solid as the Bears' defense is, they likely wouldn't enjoy dealing with the headaches that McDaniel's creativity could cause twice per season.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just missed the playoffs, too, and could look to McDaniel as an OC candidate after firing Josh Grizzard on Thursday, per ESPN. The Bucs' offense was a middle-of-the-pack unit under Grizzard's watch this season, and replacing him with the fired Dolphins coach could help improve their ranking (22.4 PPG, T-17th).
The Philadelphia Eagles are still in the postseason mix, but it wouldn't be surprising if they moved on from offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo once their run is over. Patullo's underwhelming performance has been under the microscope all season long, after failing to maximize the Eagles' playmaking core during the regular season. That's why, if they suffer an early exit, it might not take long for general manager Howie Roseman to give McDaniel a call.
It's worth noting that the Buccaneers and Eagles will be two of the Bears' 2026 opponents, increasing the likelihood of the team potentially dealing with McDaniel at some point.
Bears' Offense Could Be a Concern in 2026 Season
With the door open for McDaniel to join an NFC franchise next season, the Bears might start being concerned about their own offensive outlook.
Although OC Declan Doyle has played a role in Chicago, averaging 25.9 PPG (9th) this season, it's safe to say that many of the Bears' offensive players are playing above expectations. Quarterback Caleb Williams' accuracy remains a major concern, wideout DJ Moore has a knack for disappearing when it matters the most, and there's no telling if rookies Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III will take a step back in Year 2.
Add in the fact that the offensive line is far from perfect, and it's easy to see why the Bears might have issues keeping pace with an opposing offense led by McDaniel. Yes, the offseason could help Chicago answer any roster concerns it may have, but that'll be easier said than done, considering how Spotrac lists the Bears' cap space at just over $8.3 million for the offseason.
The Bears have every reason to believe they can hang in the NFC as long as head coach Ben Johnson is at the helm. At the same time, McDaniel potentially joining a rival — either divisional or conference — would add a new obstacle on the road to any hopeful Super Bowl run, leaving time to tell if his next destination is something Chicago should be worried about next season.