Dolphins News: Mike McDaniel Not Running From 24-Year Playoff Win Drought

The Miami Dolphins felt good about their chances entering their playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs this past season, even with it being on the road at Arrowhead Stadium. They believed they had the pieces to knock the defending champs out but ultimately, the result ended the same as it has been for all of the last 24 years, without a playoff win.

Miami has gone through an extensive playoff win drought and now holds the longest active record around the NFL, with the Detroit Lions breaking their own drought last season. Entering 2024, the Dolphins are looking to not only break the drought but also hopefully go even further.

They have had one of the better offenses in the NFL over the last few seasons under head coach Mike McDaniel but it hasn’t amounted to much winning. This is a make-or-break year for the Dolphins, especially considering that they may have to pay quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. McDaniel explained the mindset around the team entering the new season.

“You get what you emphasize,” McDaniel said Thursday, per Grant Gordon of NFL.com. “Well, why not find ways to emphasize finishing in everything you do? Obsess about it. Why not have for half the offseason, you’re trying to have staff meetings at different times during the day. I had every staff meeting I put at like 7:24 or 3:24 or 5:24 — the number 24. To you guys, it means nothing. That’s how many years it’s been since the organization has won a playoff game. We are going to hear about that come playoff time. You think? So to me, you do that to empower guys to know what’s coming. To understand it, to not run from it.”

McDaniel is embracing the long playoff win drought and is focused on ending it this season. His mindset is all about the team getting better and the only way to improve on last season is by earning a playoff win. The AFC is a tough conference but the Dolphins should still be one of the better teams, ready to make some noise.

“Let’s go attack it and let’s go achieve something together,” McDaniel said. “That’s the reason why I bring it up, just because I know no matter how much I tell people to not listen, it’s impossible not to hear the noise coming. There’s always going to be noise. Whatever, just address it and let’s do our jobs deliberately and with a mindfulness today that can be applied in the future.”

This team’s overall success won’t be defined by them just making the playoffs, but also by what they do once they get there. With star talents like Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Jalen Ramsey on the roster, the Dolphins should be better. It’s time for this team to make a run and fully utilize the potential that they have — otherwise, some drastic changes will likely need to be made.