Many thought former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel had found a new home in Los Angeles with the Chargers. However, reports had said that he had taken an interview with the Buffalo Bills for their vacant head coaching position. That has all changed over the past few hours.
In a stunning turn of events, Mike McDaniel is said to have cancelled his interview with the Bills. Chargers fans still should be holding their breath as he is still in the race for the Raiders job, though will retain his position with the Chargers if he does not get hired.
It has certainly been a wild and wacky week for the former Dolphins head coach in his search for a new job. Questions have also arisen concerning which job could be most appealing for the offensive guru. With the opportunity to work with a player the caliber of Justin Herbert, many thought they would be a match made in heaven.
Still, with the news that the Bills had come calling, the idea of McDaniel and Allen together became a scary proposition, especially for Dolphins fans. Now, the Raiders and the opportunity to work with and mold presumed No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza and a young skill position group in Vegas seems to be his only head coaching option available to him now.
Why McDaniel Backed Away From Buffalo’s Pressure Cooker
Perhaps part of the reason McDaniels shocking stepped away from candidacy for the Bills job stems form the immense pressure to have sustained postseason success. Following in the shoes of Sean McDermott, especially when you have coached in the same division, could be tough, and so McDaniel decided to back away.
Another reason could be the steady stable of options the Bills have with former connections to the team. They could end up promoting current offensive coordinator Joe Brady, or rehire former Giants head coach and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll to take over the team. The Bills have also reportedly interviewed Philip Rivers as well as looking at both Anthony Lynn and Anthony Weaver.
Raiders vs. Chargers: Project Build or Proven Stability?
Or maybe, McDaniel could just enjoy the Raiders position a bit more. After all, there will be lower expectancy to win and the opportunity to build a project in his image. While certainly, there are also potential roadblocks in terms of how much say he will have in squad building, he will have a fresh start.
Or most likely, he simply doesn’t want any more dysfunctionality. The way the Bills split with McDermott was highly puzzling and owner Terry Pegula has not painted a good picture of the way things were dealt with. Also, another job that McDaniel was up for, in Cleveland, is Dysfunction City. And to think about what happened with the Dolphins would be bad as well.
Maybe McDaniel should feel more content about his role with the Chargers. After all, it is an up and coming offense with a lot of cool pieces. Still, the past couple of weeks have been quite the roller coaster for the former Fins coach.
Christopher Sheppard Christopher Sheppard is a passionate and knowledgeable sports journalist based in Englewood, NJ pursuing a role in the sports media industry. He covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, focusing on the Dolphins, Chargers, and Buccanneers. More about Christopher Sheppard
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