{"id":662600,"date":"2026-01-08T01:50:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T01:50:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/662600\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T01:50:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T01:50:16","slug":"miami-dolphins-make-their-move-for-john-harbaugh-despite-already-having-head-coach-mike-mcdaniel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/662600\/","title":{"rendered":"Miami Dolphins make their move for John Harbaugh… despite already having head coach Mike McDaniel"},"content":{"rendered":"

By JAMES COHEN, SPORTS REPORTER<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 19:24 EST, 7 January 2026 | Updated: 19:28 EST, 7 January 2026 <\/p>\n

The Miami Dolphins<\/a> have reached out to John Harbaugh following his exit from the Baltimore Ravens<\/a> – despite the fact they already have a head coach.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday afternoon, the Ravens confirmed they had parted ways with Harbaugh after they failed to reach to the post-season following a dramatic loss to the Steelers.<\/p>\n

Harbaugh, had been in charge in Baltimore since 2008 and lead them to victory in the Super Bowl<\/a> back in 2012, but failed to keep his job after a calamitous end to 2025.<\/p>\n

Following his exit, Harbaugh had been expected to be the No 1 target for multiple teams and it seems that Miami are ready to make a move for the recently-fired coach.<\/p>\n

According to NFL Insider Josina Anderson<\/a>, the Dolphins have ‘been in touch’ with Harbaugh, despite the fact they have not fired current head coach McDaniel.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fellow NFL Insider Adam Schefter, just one day prior, had also reported <\/a>that seven NFL teams had reached out to Harbaugh’s representatives after he was fired.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The Miami Dolphins have made their move for John Harbaugh after his Baltimore Ravens exit<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The Dolphins reportedly made the approach despite already having Mike McDaniel in the role<\/p>\n

Currently, there are only six teams with a vacant head coach role, meaning that one team already with a coach had also registered their interest in the 63-year-old.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The six teams with openings – excluding Baltimore – are the Giants, Raiders, Titans, Cardinals, Falcons and Browns.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Recently, however, Ian Rapoport claimed that McDaniel had been ‘expected to be back’ on the Miami sidelines when the new season gets underway.<\/p>\n

When asked directly about the report, McDaniel said on Monday: “My understanding is, I’m the coach of the Miami Dolphins until told otherwise.”<\/p>\n

Under McDaniel’s guidance this season, the Dolphins finished third in the AFC East with a 7-10 record, which they recovered after a disastrous 2-7 start.<\/p>\n

Their early-season woes saw Miami part ways with general manager Chris Grier at the time. McDaniel, however, kept his role.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, shortly after Baltimore confirmed Harbaugh’s departure, they released a statement on his behalf, which read: ‘Well, I was hoping for a different kind of message on my last day here, someday, but that day has come today.’<\/p>\n

He went on to thank ‘the owner and organization’ who brought him in, before hailing his ‘meaningful and impactful relationships with players throughout the years that I will cherish always’.<\/p>\n

Only Mike Tomlin – whose Steelers beat the Ravens to the playoffs on Sunday night – is a longer-serving coach than Harbaugh, who left Baltimore with a 180-113 record.<\/p>\n

\"Under <\/p>\n

Under McDaniel this season, the Dolphins finished third in the AFC East with a 7-10 record<\/p>\n

\"Harbaugh's <\/p>\n

Harbaugh’s tenure at Baltimore came to an end after they failed to reach the playoffs this year<\/p>\n

It could all have been extremely different for Harbaugh and the Ravens had kicker Tyler Loop made his last-second field goal against the Steelers on Sunday night.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Baltimore was two points down in the shootout against Pittsburgh, with a win taking them into the Wild Card round of the playoffs, but the rookie inexplicably missed and sealed his team’s fate.<\/p>\n

It is the first time since 2021 that Baltimore has missed the playoffs, and only the second time since 2017.<\/p>\n

Harbaugh left the team with one Super Bowl ring – beating his brother Jim’s San Francisco 49ers in the 2012 season – and is the best coach in franchise history.<\/p>\n

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