The Detroit Lions are in the market for a new offensive coordinator, and the pressure is really on them to nail this one after a disappointing 2025 campaign that saw them go 9-8 and finish last in the NFC North.
One name that has emerged as a popular candidate among Lions fans is former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who was let go by Miami after four seasons at the helm.
McDaniel is one of the most coveted offensive coaches in the NFL, and a report from Fox Sports’ Greg Auman on Wednesday may be a good sign for Detroit’s chances at landing him.
Former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel will interview for the Bucs’ OC job Friday. He would consider a great OC opportunity better than a not-great head coaching vacancy.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 14, 2026
The Lions interviewed McDaniel for their offensive coordinator job on Tuesday.
In addition to the interview he has scheduled for the Buccanners’ OC job that Auman mentioned, McDaniel has already interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans for their head coaching positions. He also has an interview scheduled with the Baltimore Ravens for their head coach opening.
McDaniel should be prioritizing Lions' opportunity at OC
Of course, only McDaniel himself knows what he would deem a “good” versus “not great” head coaching job, but one would have to imagine the Browns and Titans aren’t high up on the list of preferences for anybody. However, Baltimore is arguably the best job on the market, and the Atlanta job is also enticing because of the Falcons’ young nucleus of skill players and weak division.
McDaniel took the Dolphins to the playoffs in each of his first two seasons, but they lost in the wild card round both times and his final two seasons ended without a playoff berth. Miami’s 2025 season was marred by struggles from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and a defense that ranked 27th in the NFL in estimated points added per play.
Still, throughout his time in Miami, McDaniel continued to establish himself as one of the premier offensive minds in the NFL, after a highly successful stint with the San Francisco 49ers from 2017-21 where he served as the team’s run game coordinator and later offensive coordinator in his final year with the team.
McDaniel has drawn praise for the creativity of his run scheme and the effectiveness of his passing concepts, which make use of heavy pre-snap motion to diagnose coverages. It was a common sight to see Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle eating over the middle on crossing routes throughout his tenure in Miami. In 2023, McDaniel managed to turn Tagovailoa into the NFL’s leading passer.
When looking at Detroit’s offense, the fit is obvious. Jared Goff is an established veteran quarterback coming off a 4,564 yard, 34-touchdown season, and Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta are among the best at their positions.
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Throw in the fact that Jameson Williams would fit right into the Waddle role as a speedster, and Jahmyr Gibbs might be the only running back in the league faster than De’Von Achane, and it’s easy to see the vision. David Montgomery's future with the team is unclear, but if he's back in 2026 that would only sweeten the deal.
McDaniel taking head coach interviews will slow his decision quite a bit and require some patience from Detroit, but it’s tough to imagine him not being near the top of the Lions’ list. The Lions held joint practices with the Dolphins this past summer.
Even with its subpar offensive line that could be losing two starters this offseason to retirement (Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow), there may not be a better offensive coordinator opening than Detroit with its boatload of skill position talent.
And if McDaniel’s goal is to become a head coach once again, (why wouldn't it be) look at how Ben Johnson turned his success with Detroit into a head coaching position with the Chicago Bears, one of the better openings in the league when he landed it.
McDaniel’s decision will probably take some time, but the Lions should afford him all the patience he needs. It might be scary to wait on him and let other potential candidates go elsewhere during that time, but the fit with McDaniel seems so obvious it looks like it’s worth the wait. They’re a desirable landing spot, even if it’s not a head coaching gig.
It’s entirely possible that McDaniel spurns Detroit for a head coaching job this offseason, which would be tough to blame him for. But if he wants a chance at immediate success and to give himself a shot at hand-selecting his next head coach position, Detroit would make all the sense in the world. And if Auman’s report is true, there’s real reason to believe it may happen.