Reunions can be tricky, they can be awkward and difficult to navigate but, 10 months on from his hiring as Miami Dolphins head coach, Mike McDaniel is likely to get a warm reception when the San Francisco 49ers host their former offensive coordinator’s team in a mouthwatering Week 13 clash at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday.
McDaniel, the jovial and quirky personality who has spent much of his coaching career at San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan’s hip, has led the Dolphins to an outstanding 2022 season to this point.
The Dolphins are 8-3 with McDaniel overseeing one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses. Miami’s often derided third-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is sixth in the NFL in completions of 20 yards or more with 38 to his name across nine games this season, having thrown only 30 in 13 appearances in 2021. His primary receivers, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, have formed a devastating duo, their frightening speed consistently tormenting defenses and encouraging Tagovailoa to attack downfield with confidence.
