NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans met Wednesday with Mike McDaniel, who spent the past four seasons leading the Miami Dolphins, as the latest candidate evaluated in their search for a new head coach, according to a person familiar with the interview schedule.
McDaniel, 42, was fired Jan. 8 after going 7-10 this season, with Miami missing the NFL playoffs for a second straight year after back-to-back appearances under the first-time head coach’s direction. He is considered a creative offensive mind, and the Titans are rebuilding with quarterback Cam Ward, who was the No. 1 pick of last year’s draft and started every game as a Tennessee rookie.
McDaniel interviewed in person with team officials, the person confirmed to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Titans are not commenting on individual interviews during the search.
The Dolphins went 35-33 overall under McDaniel, losing in the first round of the playoffs each time they made it with him at the helm via wild-card berths after runner-up finishes in the AFC East Division.
Miami was second in the AFC East again in McDaniel’s third season at 8-9, but the Dolphins missed the playoffs after being eliminated by the New York Jets in the regular-season finale. Their postseason hopes ended in Week 15 this season, extending the Dolphins’ 25-year drought without a playoff win.
The Titans started the search to replace Brian Callahan, who was fired Oct. 13 after a 1-5 start to his second season as head coach followed a 3-14 record in his first, on Jan. 6 by meeting with interim coach Mike McCoy in person. The team confirmed Saturday that seven candidates interviewed over the first week, including Kevin Stefanski, who was fired this month after four seasons as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Tennessee resumed the search Monday, interviewing Raheem Morris, recently fired after two seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, followed by Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley on Tuesday.