NFL gifts Jets the chance to get Mike McDaniel fired by Dolphins

The NY Jets will have the benefit of a fairly beatable AFC East during the 2025 season, as the rebuilding New England Patriots and chaotic Miami Dolphins could give the Jets an opportunity to pick up a few very hard-fought wins in what could be a very long season.

While the Buffalo Bills are positioned to compete for championships, Miami has taken a step backward. The defense has lost some key contributors, Jalen Ramsey seems like a lock to be traded, and head coach Mike McDaniel finds himself firmly on the hot seat after failing to win a playoff game after three seasons.

McDaniel could get canned if Miami doesn't end up making any sort of inroads in the playoff picture. Jets fans who want to see the Dolphins reboot and start over will likely be excited by the fact that the Dolphins will need to work through a very difficult end to the 2025 season.

In their last nine games of the year, Miami will face five playoff teams from 2024, including teams like the Ravens, Bills, and Steelers. The Dolphins have two more divisional games and a matchup against Joe Burrow's Bengals on the ledger as well. This could spell the end for McDaniel in Miami.

Jets could force Dolphins to fire Mike McDaniel with tough end to 2025

McDaniel's creative offensive mind has helped Tagovailoa take a step forward under his watch, but he still hasn't been able to make any sort of breakthrough in the postseason. His teams have a history of failing late in the season when the weather starts to get colder.

If the Dolphins end up firing McDaniel, this could force them into a longer rebuild the Jets could take advantage of. Assuming the Aaron Glenn plan goes off without a hitch and the Patriots rebuild goes as expected, the Dolphins could slink off to last place in the division for the next few years.

If the 2025 season goes anything like what McDaniel has usually put on display, the Dolphins will start hot with a mind-bending display of offensive creativity. However, when November and December roll around, the cold weather will put his high-flying offense on ice and lead to another regression.

It is wholly up to the Jets to make sure that they take advantage of McDaniel's struggles.