Mike McDaniel may be the face of the storm surrounding the Miami Dolphins right now, but inside the locker room, one player believes the blame belongs elsewhere.
Linebacker Chop Robinson forcefully defended his coach on Monday after fans once again rallied for McDaniel‘s dismissal, saying, “It may look bad for him, but it’s really on us.”
Robinson‘s remarks came amid growing unrest, following an ugly 0-2 start to the 2025 NFL season.
McDaniel has not shied away from the pressure. In the wake of a 33-8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts and a desperate 33-27 defeat against the New England Patriots, Miami fans flew a plane banner demanding he and GM Chris Grier be fired. Booing echoed through Hard Rock Stadium.
Yet, McDaniel insists his only focus is this week’s game and correcting the issues on the field.
McDaniel earns backing from players amid harsh criticism
Robinson wasn’t alone in defending McDaniel. Tackles and other teammates echoed similar sentiments.
Left tackle Patrick Paul said, “He’s a players’ coach who believes in his players. He inspires us … we love him.”
Linebacker Tyrel Dodson also praised the coach’s confidence in the roster, highlighting that though play-calling and scheme are vital, execution in key moments has been repeatedly lacking.
McDaniel himself addressed the swirling speculation, making clear that thinking about his job security would be a distraction.
“I think if I worry about my job security, I won’t be doing my job,” he said. “I’ve never felt entitled to this position … I’m thinking about this team and the Buffalo Bills here after I get done with this podium.”
What’s gone wrong, and what’s at stake
The Dolphins‘ defense has been particularly exposed, failing to stop drives and giving up too many big plays.
On offense, costly penalties, communication breakdowns, and mistimed substitutions have squandered opportunities, perhaps most notably late drives against New England, where false starts, delay-of-game penalties, and a fourth-down sack sealed defeat.
While McDaniel has repeatedly insisted he still has the team’s trust, every loss increases the pressure.
The upcoming matchup against the Buffalo Bills looms large: not only is it a chance to reverse momentum, it may also be a litmus test for his standing with both the franchise and the fans.
Win or lose there, Miami’s margin for error is thin. Fans are no longer waiting; they are demanding change.
But Robinson‘s message is clear: if this season improves, it won’t be McDaniel being vindicated alone.
It will be a team that stopped making excuses, cleaned up its performance, and took responsibility when it mattered most.
Read the full article here
