Mike McDaniel's career before becoming a head coach in the NFL began as a wide receiver at Yale, where he played four years, mostly as a scout team player and eventually varsity in his junior year. Although not a major on-field contributor, he was known for his leadership and being a film room expert. He transitioned to coaching starting as an intern with the Denver Broncos in 2005 and then took assistant coaching roles with several NFL teams, including the Houston Texans, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, and San Francisco 49ers, often specializing in the run game. He struggled with personal challenges such as alcohol issues early in his career but overcame them and steadily progressed in the coaching ranks. He served as the offensive coordinator for the 49ers before being hired as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2022.

After becoming the Miami Dolphins head coach in 2022, McDaniel immediately made an impact, winning his first game and leading the Dolphins to their first playoff appearance since 2016. The team set remarkable offensive records in the 2023 season under his leadership, including an NFL-record 70 points scored in a game and 726 offensive yards in that same game, marking one of the best offensive performances in NFL history. However, by the 2024 season, the Dolphins struggled, finishing with an 8-9 record and missing the playoffs. The team's defense ranked fourth in fewest yards allowed, but the offense was hindered by injuries, including the absence of starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for six games. Despite recent setbacks, McDaniel continues as head coach with the full support of the team's management.

In summary, Mike McDaniel's before and after journey is from a determined, hard-working player and assistant coach overcoming personal challenges to a dynamic NFL head coach who brought innovative offensive success and playoff contention to the Miami Dolphins.