The Miami Dolphins were on the brink of collapse at 2-7, with pressure mounting on head coach Mike McDaniel as a Halloween leadership meeting in the locker room changed the team’s trajectory, sparking a three-game winning streak.
Details of the meeting emerged outlining that McDaniel challenged team leaders to step up and take control after a demoralizing stretch as the discussion sparked accountability in the locker room.
It has sparked a three-game winning streak and preserved McDaniel‘s job, after the Dolphins had just suffered a heavy defeat to the Ravens on the Thursday Night Football, leaving them with a 2-7 record as the playoff outlook was bleak.
Chris Grier, general manager, had been fired, placing every decision under intense scrutiny, including McDaniel‘s future as leaders of the locker room gathered to deliver a brutal self-imposed reality check.
“We really emphasized,” Minkah Fitzpatrick told Albert Breer. “Whoever ends up staying on this team, or coming to this team come Wednesday, we’re all gonna have each other’s backs, we’re all gonna lean into one another.
“We still have a lot of football left, we have a lot of talent on this team, we trust our coaches. And we just had to continue to lean into each other.
“And I feel like we’ve done a really good job of that. We just got closer and started executing at a higher level.”
They reminded teammates that commitment and trust in one another were paramount if the team hoped to salvage the season and compete in the remaining games, and the immediate impact was clear.
Miami defeated the Buffalo Bills 30-13, waved away the Washington Commanders 16-13 in Spain, and overcame a determined rally from the New Orleans Saints to rattle off three wins in a row.
Although the NFL Playoffs are likely gone, it has given McDaniel the benefit of the doubt that the first nine games of the year were simply a poor blip in form, thus keeping him in the hot seat for now.
Tyreek Hill hints at a possible return to Kansas City
Meanwhile, questions about the Dolphins‘ roster loom as star wide receiver Tyreek Hill fueled speculation regarding his future after cryptic social media posts alluding to a reunion with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Hill, traded from the Chiefs to Miami in 2022 as a Super Bowl winner, has been a deep-threat staple in the Dolphins‘ offense, accumulating over 3,500 yards and 20 touchdowns in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
However, multiple injuries limited his effectiveness in 2024, culminating in a season-ending knee injury this year against the New York Jets – leaving his future at the Hard Rock Stadium exceedingly uncertain.
And following the Chiefs‘ 6-6 record after a loss to the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, that uncertainty headed to another level as Hill posted on X.com, formerly Twitter, “I need to go home.”
The comment sparked immediate speculation about a return to Kansas City, and fans quickly responded with encouragement, fueling further debate about his next destination.
The Chicago Bears also entered the conversation as under Ben Johnson, they have seen significant improvement led by quarterback Caleb Williams, who has thrown for 2,568 yards, 16 touchdowns, and four interceptions this season.
Hill referenced Williams in a social media post with “Caleb Williams hmmm,” hinting at potential interest in the team that ended Week 13 as the NFC‘s top seed with a 9-3 record, displacing the Los Angeles Rams.
Read the full article here
