Mike McDaniel’s dream of becoming a head coach came true when the Miami Dolphins hired him in February at the age of 38. Now 39, McDaniel began his coaching career when he was hired by the Denver Broncos in 2005 as a coaching intern. Prior to going into coaching, McDaniel played wide receiver at Yale.
The mission of making it to the NFL is something McDaniel had in his mind for years. Whether it was as a head coach or player, McDaniel was determined to make it.
While McDaniel’s Dolphins were playing on “Sunday Night Football” against the Pittsburgh Steelers, NBC did a bit about the coach’s youth football helmet. They showed some photos of the inside of McDaniel’s youth football helmet, which had stickers of the logos for every NFL team. Written inside the helmet was the phrase “I will make it!”
When @MiamiDolphins HC Mike McDaniel was playing youth football, he wrote inside his helmet "I will make it!"
Look at him now. 🥺
📺: #PITvsMIA on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/vDQGJ9SfCd pic.twitter.com/QgSbq0UrML— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2022
When Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel started playing youth football, he wrote a message inside his helmet.
Today, as he makes his debut as a NFL head coach, it feels like a good time to share some pictures of that helmet. Chase your dreams. #iwill pic.twitter.com/Rz97U3ti1W
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) September 11, 2022
Though he did not make it to the NFL as a player, McDaniel made it as a coach, which isn’t a bad consolation prize. After all, there are over 1,500 NFL players, but only 32 NFL head coaches.
McDaniel’s Dolphins are 4-3 this season. They’re 4-0 in games where Tua Tagovailoa has played the full contest.
