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Former Dolphins RB blasts Mike McDaniel's 'nonchalant' approach
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- Former Dolphins RB blasts Mike McDaniel's 'nonchalant' approach
Former Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert was a guest on "The Herd" with Colin Cowherd on Monday, and he had some interesting things to say about his time in Miami, particularly regarding former head coach Mike McDaniel's player-friendly approach.
"We had a good relationship going into the Dolphins organization, but obviously things kind of flustered and went their own ways. But at the beginning of everything, there's always a good story and good telling. We did everything we possibly could to maximize the opportunities that were given to us," said Mostert. "(McDaniel) is a great coach; he listens, if guys are talking to you, he'll listen and give them some advice.
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"But head coach-wise, obviously, the past couple of years, what they've been going through has just been kind of rough. And I kind of feel bad for the players, just because when you have a coach that is so player-friendly, it doesn't really mix all that well. Look at the coaching history, not just in the NFL, but MLB, NBA, all these different sports franchises, they have coaches that implement toughness, resilience, and that's something that (McDaniel) kind of missed the mark on in being a head coach."
From the 49ers to the Dolphins, Mostert and McDaniel had been on the same team from 2017-2024. There might not be a player who's been present for McDaniel's coaching career as much as Mostert.
"When you're dealing with a coach that's so nonchalant, laid back, wants to be the catalyst behind being a player's coach, it kind of shifts that organization and the pivot within that system. It can work for other smaller league teams, possibly," Mostert continued. "But when you're dealing with something like that as a player, you're like 'no, I need somebody tough that's going to lay the hammer down when it needs to be down and tell other players to get in line,' and when you don't have that, that impact can definitely be detrimental."
Mostert joined the Dolphins in 2022, where he became the team's starting running back. He and McDaniel had a prior connection in San Francisco , where McDaniel was the run game specialist and coordinator from 2017-20, and offensive coordinator in 2021. Mostert had been a journeyman practice squad player before making a name for himself with the 49ers with the help of McDaniel.
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Mostert elevated his level of play during his first two seasons in Miami. In 2023, Mostert had his best season in the NFL, rushing for 1,012 rushing yards and a league-leading 21 touchdowns, 18 rushing and three receiving. His 18 rushing touchdowns set a Dolphins franchise record that was previously held by Ricky Williams, who had 16 rushing TDs in 2002.
However, in 2024, Mostert took a major step back, as second-year back De'Von Achane was elevated to a more consistent role as the team's primary running back. Mostert only managed 278 rushing yards and two touchdowns in 2024 and was released the following offseason.
While Mostert's comments could be viewed as bitter due to his diminished role at the end of his tenure in Miami, McDaniel's coaching methods were widely criticized by fans and media in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The Dolphins often had the label as a 'soft' team under McDaniel. In 2024, there were reports of players having tardiness issues. These narratives are consistent with Mostert's critique of McDaniel's laid-back approach.
Mostert is currently a free agent after a one-year stint with the Las Vegas Raiders , and he expressed interest in a potential return to the Dolphins under the new coaching regime.
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A return to Miami seems unlikely since the Dolphins have very little cap space, and the running back room already has Achane as the established starter with Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon still on their rookie deals. The Dolphins have very little cap space to work with and a number of needs to address on the roster, making it hard to imagine that even a veteran minimum deal for Mostert is in the cards for Jon-Eric Sullivan and the front office.
However, relationships and connections matter in the NFL, and if Jeff Hafley and Bobby Slowik feel that Mostert's services could be useful to the Dolphins in 2026, there is a chance he could return to Miami for his 12th NFL season.
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This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Former Dolphins RB blasts Mike McDaniel's 'nonchalant' approach
