Dolphins tight end Darren Waller says he was having his exit interview with Mike McDaniel when Stephen Ross barged in and fired McDaniel.

McDaniel's ouster came days after the end of the regular season and after McDaniel held a pair of press conferences that focused on his plans to move the team in a different direction during the 2026 season. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross released a statement about the decision shortly after news of the change was reported by multiple outlets.

In a late but not unexpected move, the Miami Dolphins fired head coach Mike McDaniel after four years and a 35-33 record. While many feel that the move was necessary, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith believes that the move warrants some scorn for Dolphins star QB Tua Tagovailoa.

The Dolphins ultimately decided to part ways with McDaniel. Many assume the decision was made with an eye toward Harbaugh, but is that the case?

Darren Waller may have been the last player to speak with Mike McDaniel before the Miami Dolphins fired the coach. As Waller put it on an interview with former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel, he was at the “scene of the crime.”