MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The best meal of Mike McDaniel’s life had nothing to do with the steak that was served.
A few weeks back, McDaniel accepted an invitation to dine with Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross at Ross’ Palm Beach mansion, a two-acre, 11-bedroom compound known as The Reef, whose estimated value is well over $50 million.
Miami Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel’s Contract Extension
The best thing on the menu? A contract extension for McDaniel that commits the team to him through 2028.
“I knew he wanted to have dinner and I knew I was going to be a good dinner date, I guess you’d say,” McDaniel revealed Monday. “Outside of that, you don’t really forecast too much. It was an opportunity to hang out with Mr. Ross and so I jumped on that, and yeah, that’s what [occurred].”
The timing of the extension was the most interesting part of the decision. McDaniel had two more years left on the deal he signed when the Dolphins hired him in early 2022.
In other words, Ross didn’t have to do it now. He wanted to do it now.
“I think part of trying to have a program sustain is you have to really look at each and every day and what goes into it and what you’re asking of other people and who are those people that are supporting you and really rallying the troops each and every day,” McDaniel said.
“I haven’t really thought twice about it afterward. … I guess I’ve had a ton of reasons, millions and millions of reasons, to approach every day with everything that I have and really give myself to everyone as best I can.”
That includes and begins with his quarterback. It’s no coincidence that McDaniel’s deal and Tua Tagovailoa’s contract both run through 2028.
McDaniel’s work with Tagovailoa alone is worth millions, but Ross also loves how McDaniel works with the franchise’s other decision-makers, including Miami general manager Chris Grier and CEO Tom Garfinkel.
“We took a chance, but I was impressed by him,” Ross said during a team preseason broadcast two weeks ago. “I mean his intelligence, and as a person, he’s unique, certainly, and he’s doing a great job. Everybody loves him.”
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Ross is reciprocating that love by showing him the money.
But there are strings attached. This contract extension says just as much about what Ross expects from McDaniel’s future as what he’s done in the recent past.
“We have a great roster, and I think everybody has great expectations,” Ross added. “But hey, it’s the old injury bug. You got to make sure that that doesn’t happen like last year.
“I think without that and we stay healthy, I think we’re certainly a contender for the Super Bowl.”