The Miami Dolphins just dropped an absolute bombshell on the rest of the NFL by firing head coach Mike McDaniel. The decision to fire McDaniel came as a shock to pretty much everyone due to the fact that McDaniel was helping the team in its search for a new general manager, but it has opened up a whole new can of worms for the rest of the NFL.
Now, McDaniel might be one of the most coveted head coach candidates on the open market, and if he's willing to take offensive coordinator jobs, he's going to have every NFL team out there in need of an OC calling him non-stop.
It just so happens that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need an offensive coordinator, and it could make a ton of sense for McDaniel. This is a nightmare scenario the New Orleans Saints (and the rest of the NFC South) would prefer not to face.
Mike McDaniel joining the Buccaneers would be a nightmare for the Saints, NFC South in 2026
Even though the arrow is very clearly pointing up for the New Orleans Saints right now, it's probably fair to say that, with the right play-caller in place, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a little bit closer to contention. We saw that Buccaneers offense play extremely well for Dave Canales and Liam Coen before they got head coaching gigs, and one could argue McDaniel is a better offensive mind than either of those two guys.
His pedigree speaks for itself. Dating back to his time as an assistant with Washington, his time as the run game coordinator with the 49ers, offensive coordinator with the 49ers, and the dynamic offense he put together for a few years with the Dolphins, the idea of him getting those Buccaneers playmakers at his disposal is a bit of a scary proposition.
The Buccaneers shouldn't have to do a ton of recruiting to bring in a top-flight offensive coordinator this offseason. Baker Mayfield is a good starting quarterback, Bucky Irving gives them a dynamic option at running back, and the receiver room there is not lacking for big names with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Emeka Egbuka.
Perhaps the best news for the Saints right now is the fact that McDaniel will be the most in-demand coach outside of John Harbaugh now that he's hit the market, especially if he's willing to take an offensive coordinator role. There will be such high demand for him that the Bucs might not be able to win the bidding war.
And no Saints fan would be upset by that. Hopefully, McDaniel ends up literally anywhere outside of the NFC South.