Mike McDaniel has been called “the most interesting coach in the NFL” and it’s easy to see why. In his second season as the Miami Dolphins head coach, McDaniel has captured the attention of the league. The 40-year-old Yale graduate has earned a reputation as a creative, offensive-minded coach and an authentic leader. He landed his first job in the NFL at age 22, but his journey to head coach didn’t come without struggle. On this episode, Mike opens up about how a drinking problem almost cost him his career—and how going through adversity has made him a better coach. We talk about embracing vulnerability as a leader, showing up authentically, and finding the opportunity in adversity.
Show Notes
- You have to be passionate about your work to sustain excellence (2:07)
- Be willing to fail (5:34)
- How his family dynamics fueled his drive to be great (9:13)
- A defining moment in Mike’s career (10:33)
- His decision to quit drinking on January 4, 2016 (13:22)
- The problem with “A to B” thinking (16:56)
- The pressure to keep up with his peers as a young assistant in the NFL (18:28)
- The 865 days he was out of the NFL that motivated him to come back better (20:13)
- How his own life journey makes him a better coach (21:25)
- Mike’s leadership philosophy (24:02)
- The pressure he put on himself by focusing on the wrong things (25:28)
- The importance of being present (27:55)
- Stay humble: you are the product of your daily output (35:46)
- Don’t pattern yourself after anyone else (38:30)
- What he looks for when hiring staff (42:10)
- One thing he’s always done to connect with his team members (43:20)
- How he builds his players’ confidence (47:15)
- Adversity is opportunity (50:25)
- What he expects from his quarterback Tua Tagovailoa this season (51:19)
- The biggest lessons he learned in his first year as a head coach (54:18)
Resources / People Mentioned
- Miami Dolphins
- Yale University football
- Mike Shanahan, NFL coach
- San Francisco 49ers
- Denver Broncos
- Julio Jones, NFL receiver
- Dan Quinn, NFL coach
- Russ Rausch
- Vision Pursue
- Kyle Shanahan, NFL coach
- Matt LaFleur, NFL coach
- Sean McVay, NFL coach
- Tua Tagovailoa, NFL quarterback
- Emmanuel Sanders, NFL receiver
- Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin
Recommended For You
Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:
- Dan Quinn and Russ Rausch on Strengthening Your Mental Game
- Ron Rivera on Building Resilient Teams
- Brad Stevens on How to Lead with a Growth Mindset
Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app and leave a rating or review.
