SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is leaving for a head coaching position in Miami, the Dolphins announced Sunday afternoon.
McDaniel, 38, spent the last five seasons working for the 49ers — run game specialist (2017), run game coordinator (2018-20), and spent last season with the title offensive coordinator.
The Yale graduate helped the 49ers have the seventh-best rushing attack in the NFL, including his role in creative run schemes that featured All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel at running back.
McDaniel followed 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan from Atlanta — both arrived in San Francisco in 2017 when Shanahan was named head coach.
Shanahan was the offensive coordinator while McDaniel was an offensive assistant on the Falcons staff in 2016, according to the Dolphins.
“Mike’s a good dude, he’s really good at what he does and he’s himself,” Shanahan said in January via a quote posted by the Dolphins. He’s one of the smartests coaches I’ve been around and he’s been huge to our team and huge for me throughout my career.”
This is the second straight year a 49ers coordinator left Shanahan’s staff to take a head coaching job elswhere.
The 49ers have yet to officially release a statement on McDaniel’s department.
After the 2020 season, former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh left San Francisco to become the New York Jets’ head coach.
McDaniel replaces recently fired Brian Flores who filed a lawsuit last week against the NFL alleging racial discrimination in its hiring/firing practices.
Flores was fired by the Dolphins despite winning seasons in two of his three seasons as head coach.
McDaniel is the first minority head coach candidate to get a job this offseason, according to The Associated Press.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.