Miami Dolphins history with first time head coaches is not good
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins are very likely to hire a first time NFL head coach but their history with this type of hire is not good.
When the Miami Dolphins announce the name of their 13th head coach in franchise history he will likely be taking on his first NFL head coaching gig. It is a history that the Dolphins have not had much success with.
Don Shula joined the Miami Dolphins after a Super Bowl appearance with the Colts. Jimmy Johnson joined the Dolphins after a multi-Super Bowl run with the Cowboys and Dave Wannstedt replaced Johnson after failing in Chicago as a head coach. Everyone else never coached a down as a head coach in the NFL.
The closest Miami came to an experienced head coach was Nick Saban but Saban bolted back to the college ranks after two seasons. Recently Saban was asked about his time in Miami and he said that it was a perfect situation with perfect people but he just never felt comfortable in the NFL. Or something close to that.
Cam Cameron was the hot OC candidate just like Adam Gase. Tony Sparano was the well respected assistant coach that players loved to play for. Joe Philbin was the quiet offensive coordinator on one of the best offenses in the NFL in Green Bay. And none of them worked out in Miami as a head coach.
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Did the Dolphins simply hire the wrong coaches or is there something about first time HC’s that should eliminate them from consideration? The answer to that question is a resounding “no”. Doug Peterson and Sean McVay will tell you otherwise.
The fact Miami hasn’t gone the experienced route shouldn’t keep fans from wanting the Dolphins to continue to search for that next best coach. There simply is no guarantee that a retread head coach will work out either.
So far the Dolphins have lined up several interviews and all of them so far have no experience as an NFL head coach. Vic Fangio, Darren Rizzi, Kris Richard, Brian Flores, and Eric Bieniemy all check the boxes but one. Previous head coach.
The Dolphins are 99-130 since Dave Wannstedt was replaced in 2004 with Nick Saban. Each of those coaches were first time NFL head coaches with the most experience obviously coming with Nick Saban.
For the Dolphins finding a coach with previous HC experience won’t be easy. They are rumored to be interested in Mike Munchak who coached the Titans for three years. One reason is that the Dolphins are going to rebuild and a coach who is trying to get back to that level will likely view the Dolphins as a no win situation. A team that is transitioning with no guarantees that when the team is rebuilt that the job will still be theirs.
It is a fluid situation with the Dolphins right now. Ross and Grier will make the decision that they fell will be the best for the franchise but that “best” option is likely going to be a first time head coach.