The Miami Dolphins were not kidding when they said they would cast a wide net in their search for a new head coach. Monday saw a deluge of reports, rumors, and interviews come flying through the news, as the Dolphins threw their net far and wide, seeming to want to find every possible head coach candidate as they look for the right guy to take the helm of the team. While that is great for the Dolphins, and us as fans, when football starts, it made for a nearly impossible day yesterday trying to keep up with all the news.
Today, we take a minute and reset what we know about the Dolphins' search for their next head coach:
Interview Complete
Mike Smith, former Atlanta Falcons coach
-The Dolphins began their interviews with the former Falcons coach, confirming the interview after it was completed.
Interviews Scheduled
Mike Shanahan, former Washington Redskins coach - Tuesday
Teryl Austin, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator - Tuesday (?)
Adam Gase, Chicago Bears offensive coordinator - Thursday
Dan Campbell, Dolphins interim head coach - Friday
- Miami will continue their interviews today with Mike Shanahan next on the schedule. Reports have indicated this is a "second" interview with the team though Executive Vice President of Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum said during a press conference yesterday that the team had not interviewed Shanahan though they had spoken to each other. Gase is the hot coordinator this year and will sit down with the team on Thursday. The team is giving Campbell, their tight ends coach who slid into the interim head coach position when Joe Philbin was fired, some time to put together his plan and a potential staff.
Interview Requested
Doug Marrone, Jacksonville Jaguars assistant head coach
Josh McDaniels, New England Patriots offensive coordinator
Matt Patricia, New England Patriots defensive coordinator
Anthony Lynn, Buffalo Bills assistant head coach
Hue Jackson, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator
- Most of these candidates should end up with a scheduled interview at some point, but either we have not heard it yet, the date has not been locked in yet, or we may not hear about it until after the team conducts the interview and announces it. Marrone's interview is expected to be sometime this week, but no date is known yet.
Rumors
Dirk Koetter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator
Todd Haley, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator
- There was some connection between the Dolphins and Koetter just before the end of the season, but no other connection has been made as of yet. That does not mean there will not be, or that there was not some interest, but for now, he is still in the rumor section. There is a definite interest in Haley from the Dolphins, but the Steelers being in the Playoffs causes issues (similar to Jackson, where Miami could request an interview, but would have to wait until after the team is out of the Playoffs or the team approves an in-week interview).