Mike McDaniel memes, explained: 'Miami-fication' glasses photo shows transformation since 2022 hiring

Dan Treacy

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Mike McDaniel memes, explained: 'Miami-fication' glasses photo shows transformation since 2022 hiring image

Mike McDaniel was far from a sure thing when he was hired as the Dolphins' head coach in 2022.

Just 38 at the time, McDaniel didn't have the reins of Kyle Shanahan's offense in San Francisco but got an opportunity to lead a franchise because of his creative offensive mind. There is work ahead for the Dolphins to get where they want to be, but it's clear the team likes what it's seen from its head coach through two-plus years.

McDaniel evidently likes Miami, too. Fans have pointed out his transformation from 2022 to 2024 — a "Miami-fication," one might say — through memes leading up to this season.

Here's a look at the best McDaniel memes and how his gold glasses and shoes have sparked them.

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Mike McDaniel memes

An image of McDaniel at a press conference during training camp went viral in August, showing the Dolphins coach looking unbothered with sunglasses, grown-out curly hair and a gold watch to go along with his beard.

Here's a sampling of some of the memes:

McDaniel has been the focus of a few other memes during his time as Dolphins coach, partly the result of his hilarious soundbites during press conferences but also due to a clip of him sprinting to the locker room after an in-game interview.

The Dolphins have one of the NFL's zaniest coaches, but what they would really like is an AFC East title and ultimately a deep playoff run. They can take an early step toward those goals with a win over the division-rival Bills on Thursday.

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Mike McDaniel gold glasses

McDaniel has worn a few different variations of glasses over the last three years, including the rose-colored lenses that complemented his meme-worthy appearance in August. 

Some of his gold-rimmed glasses have especially attracted attention, even prompting a funny interaction with a reporter late last season:

Mike McDaniel shoes

McDaniel's shoes aren't visible in any of the "Miami-fication" memes, but the Dolphins coach is very much a sneakerhead. He was seen wearing Off-White Air Force 1's during a game last season, just one example of a few different signature sneakers he's worn in Miami.

McDaniel's in-game sneaker history is also said to include the following:

  • Adidas Yeezys
  • Adidas NMDs
  • Adidas Alphaedge 4D
  • Nike Supreme Air Force 1s
  • Custom Nike Air Flight Lites

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Mike McDaniel salary, net worth

McDaniel agreed to a contract extension through the 2028 season in late August. As is often the case with coaches, however, his salary wasn't disclosed. That makes it difficult to determine McDaniel's net worth, but it's unlikely the figure exceeds a few million. 

McDaniel certainly didn't come from much, as he got his start as a ball boy through a wild twist of fate. His NFL story began when he lost his hat at Broncos practice when he was nine years old. A team staffer went and replaced the hat, which led the staffer to meet and later start a relationship with McDaniel's mother.

McDaniel one day became a Broncos ball boy and worked his way up the ladder in the NFL to become Shanahan's right-hand man in San Francisco before taking the Dolphins job.

The contract extension is a great reward for McDaniel, but pressure is building for the 41-year-old to lead the franchise to its first playoff win since 2000.

Dan Treacy

Dan Treacy Photo

Dan Treacy is a content producer for Sporting News, joining in 2022 after graduating from Boston University. He founded @allsportsnews on Instagram in 2012 and has written for Lineups and Yardbarker.