Dolphins' subpar season prompts Mike McDaniel to reflect on his approach to player discipline.

The hiring of Mike McDaniel by the Miami Dolphins in 2022 marked a significant shift in coaching approach from the previous regime.

In 2021, Brian Flores, the former coach of the Miami Dolphins, was known for his defensive mindset, while Kyle McDaniel, the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, had a different approach to player discipline, focusing on offense.

The New York Jets defeated the Dolphins on Sunday, resulting in a record of 8-9. Despite finishing the 2022 and 2023 seasons with winning records and postseason berths, the Dolphins' sub .500 record this season kept them out of the playoffs for the first time under McDaniel.

McDaniel's final media availability before the team's offseason was prompted by missing the playoffs.

During the media session, McDaniel admitted that he may have given players too much freedom, and he argued that fines are not always an effective way to discipline players.

"I can punish people until they are blue in the face. I can take their money, I can scream at them," McDaniel said. "But until they comprehend that part of the reason we are in this position is due to controllables, and what we must have, with absolute certainty, is a zero tolerance for anything else, we must clean up the controllables and we can have a chance to succeed together."

McDaniel did not specify any particular player but suggested that the Dolphins had "several offenders." He reiterated his stance that fines are insufficient, and later stated that any internal problems that emerged during the season were not widespread.

"McDaniel stated that not all individuals were fined across the board, and there were some who had multiple fines but did not receive any. He believes that there are different ways to address this issue and that placing all the blame on small individuals who were multiple offenders is not enough. Instead, he suggests bringing it up as a team and finding alternative solutions."

McDaniel stated that he is open to making changes to his process and ensuring that everyone on the team is aware of any actions that do not contribute to the success of football games.

Through the 2028 season, McDaniel is bound to the Dolphins by his contract.

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