The Miami Dolphins are coming off a disappointing season in which they opted to finally part ways with Joe Philbin as head coach on the way to finishing with a 6-10 record and missing the playoffs once again. Miami finished the year with Dan Campbell as their interim bench boss but they will head in to this offseason looking to address their head coaching vacancy with a strong list of candidates from outside of the organization. Here is a look at the four best options for the Dolphins as head coach.
Hue Jackson
Offensive Coordinator, Cincinnati Bengals
The most obvious candidates aren’t always the best fits for a team and while Jackson might not be at the top of the short list of favorites to win the job he could very well be the best option for the Dolphins. Jackson has helped take the Cincinnati Bengals offense to another level as they ranked fourth in the NFL with an average of 26.3 points per game this season despite some notable injuries and finished strong despite an injury that forced Andy Dalton to the sideline late in the year. Jackson doesn’t have a ton of head coaching experience but he posted an 8-8 record in his lone year as the bench boss for the Oakland Raiders and he is exactly the type of creative offensive mind and strong, character leader that Miami should want as head coach. However, the Dolphins often like to go outside the box, so don’t be surprised if they go in their own direction here.
Sean Payton
Head Coach, New Orleans Saints
Payton is clearly the hottest coaching commodity available right now and would be an excellent fit no matter where he ends up next season but there is a major catch that prevented him from being our choice for the Dolphins’ top option and it is the trade demand that the Saints have reportedly placed in exchange for acquiring him. New Orleans has reportedly asked for a second round pick in exchange for Payton and that is a pretty steep price to pay for an organization that has several key areas of need it still must address this offseason. There is no doubt that Payton would be an excellent addition for the Saints but acquiring him will not be cheap for Miami.
Josh McDaniels
Offensive Coordinator, New England Patriots
McDaniels is one of the most intriguing options for the Dolphins as he would bring with him a wealth of knowledge both in terms of how to attack opponents on offense and in terms of competing with Miami’s biggest rival in the AFC East in the Patriots. McDaniels posted an 11-17 record in just under two seasons as the head coach of the Denver Broncos but he has talked openly about how he has learned from that experience and how it has prepared him for his next opportunity. There is every reason to believe that McDaniels is ready for another head coaching job in the NFL and it would be very interesting to see what would happen if he ended up as the Dolphins next head coach.
Doug Marrone
Offensive Line Coach/Assistant Head Coach
Marrone would be another intriguing hire for Miami as he spent time with another one of their rivals in the Buffalo Bills in 2014. He eventually quit on the team and spent this season as the Jacksonville Jaguars offensive line coach. That means it wouldn’t be a distant move for him since he is already coaching in the state of Florida. Marrone went 6-10 in his only season with the Bills and then shockingly opted out of his deal with the team after he was unable to settle differences with the front office. Marrone has done an excellent job everywhere that he has gone as an assistant and many people feel he has the qualities of a head coach – even if he was selfish in Buffalo. He would be another strong fit for the Dolphins if they were willing to take a chance on him as head coach.
