It’s been quite the 96 hours since the start of Black Monday. It had been rumored but I don’t believe anyone could have truly foreseen Harbaugh‘s firing. We all seem to have jumped on the Harbaugh bandwagon (I’ve wanted him for years) but if it falls through, if we don’t get Harbaugh, then WHO do we pursue as the next head coach? I do believe there is at least one head coach in the playoffs that should they lose, especially in the wildcard game he could be fired as well…and that’s Mike Tomlin. Could he be a realistic backup plan if we fail to get Harbaugh and Tomlin is fired?
I'd also love Harbaugh. But he's the only established coach that has been or might get fired I'd want. I'm OK with rolling the dice again on an OC or DC if Harbaugh doesn't work out. Particularly interesting is Jesse Minter. Chargers' defense was bottom third of the league years on end and then he comes in and they finished #1 and #9 in points allowed in 2024 and 2025. I also doubt Tomlin will be fired. The guy has a stellar record and produces a consistent winner. He's just been bad in the playoffs lately.
I don’t want another first time HC. I don’t care how good and OC or DC he is. We’ve rolled the dice on 6 first time head coaches since 2007. Nearly 20 years and we’ve it had en experienced head coach leading our team.
Saban was a NFL rookie too. He's part of that mix of failure. It doesn't matter how much you coach at college. Guy was a loser in the NFL. There have been rumors today that Packers coach LaFleur could be let go if they lose Saturday. He would immediately jump to number one for me. Maybe the most appealing coach available since Andy Reid if that were the case. 17 years younger than Harbaugh, and almost certainly more suited for the slow, patient teardown and rebuild that Miami needs.
I have trouble believing Lefleur would be let go.. i know they had some preseason expectations but come on… if hes responsible for Jordan Love’s extension then i understand. I know Mcdaniels is responsible for Tua’s with the way he talked him up
The simple fact is that if you are looking for your next Don Shula the best way if finding him is by rolling the dice on a DC or OC. NFL tampering rules basically prevent teams acquiring a HC in the manner the Robbies acquired Shula back in the day. A retread HC turning the franchise around has happened, such as with Andy Reid and Tony Dungy. However those opportunities occur far less often than finding the diamond in the rough. Don't get me wrong I'm all for hiring Harbaugh, but if we fail I'd rather roll the dice an a co-ordinator than some mid of the road re-tread who will give us a few years worth of mediocrity. So if not Harbaugh, Chris Shula
There were rules against tampering then. If I remember correctly, the Dolphins not only lost a 1st round draft pick in tampering to get Shua but also fined $170K. All I'm saying is this...we've been rolling the dice on first time head coaches for over 20 years and we've been stuck in mediocrity ever since. Our strategy can't be "well, we've struck out so many times before, we HAVE to get lucky THIS time"
My understanding of the Don Shula to the ‘phins is: It was a transfer from the NFL to the AFL when they were different organizations and Don Shula was promoted from HC to GM/HC plus 5% ownership stake. The Colt’s GM at the time didn’t file anti-tampering because it was a promotion they couldn’t/wouldn’t match, but the Colt’s owner whined to the commissioner and the commissioner imposed a fine even though it wasn’t technically tampering.
They can't hire a Shula. It would be just too much pressure. If he fails, it would be terrible for him and the team. That's a big legacy to live up to. It's also too Oedipal. lol
I'm not sure that's true at all. While not all HCs that were successful in their first stop were successful at their second, I think most who were legitimately successful in their first have generally had pretty good success at their second. Shula is an example, as is Parcells, Holmgren, Reeves, Reid, Dungy, etc. Belichick and Shanahan weren't very successful in their first stops, but were in their second ones. I think the success rate of the "hot coordinator" is far less than the success rate of good, experienced HCs.
I no longer think that Harbaugh is coming to Miami. I do not think you become the GM of a team and then go and hire someone that you have no working relationship with as your HC. I think that Hafley and Campanile are real possibilities with McCarthy and LeFluer as other distinct possibilities.
Harbaugh's not coming here. He listed 4 non-negotiable demands: 1) $20 million per year, 2) $10 million budget for coaching staff, 3) complete authority over roster, and 4) freedom to choose own general manager. So he's not coming here.
He's earning 17 mil per year now, and having full control kind of comes with the territory for someone like that, so he might get it. Still many teams interested.
To me the Gm is more important the coach anyway.You have the best coach in the league but if he doesn't have the right players for his system it will never work. Heard great things about this Gm so will trust whoever he picks.
Great players and prospects without a coach that can develop them and motivate them properly, find the right assistant coaches, design offensive and defense systems, and game plan, will lead to a mediocre team. Hard to say who is more influential in the end (assuming the roles are strictly demarcated), but it's clear they're both important.
True but still going to trust the GM and apparently Aikman is still helping to find the right coach. I just meaning not getting Harbaugh is not the end of the world
We should give it to him. Hell of a time for Ross to get stingy all of a sudden. Guess we wasted too much money on Tua.
