Former Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert blasts Mike McDaniel's coaching style: 'I need someone tough'

While he had a career year under Mike McDaniel's watch, Raheem Mostert apparently wasn't a fan of McDaniel's coaching style during their time together with the Miami Dolphins. 

Mostert, who played for McDaniel from 2022-24, recently criticized McDaniel for wanting to be too much of a "player's coach." McDaniel was fired following the 2025 season and is currently the Los Angeles Chargers' offensive coordinator. Mostert said he would have preferred McDaniel to be more "no-nonsense" like former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin or former Patriots coach Bill Belichick. 

"When you're dealing with a coach that's so nonchalant, laid back, wants to be, you know, the catalyst behind being a player's coach, it kind of shifts that organization and the pivot within that system," Mostert said on 'The Herd with Colin Cowherd.' '' [That] can work for other, smaller teams, possibly. But when you're dealing with something like that, as a player, you're like, no, I need somebody, you know, tough that's going to lay the hammer down when it needs to be down, and tell other players to get in line. When you don't have that, that that impact can definitely be detrimental." 

In regard to his "smaller" comment, Mostert was likely alluded to teams that don't have the talent or the expectations that Miami had at that time. But after making the playoffs each of McDaniel's first two years in Miami, the Dolphins missed the postseason the following two years while posting a 15-24 record. Miami remains in search of its first playoff win since defeating the Indianapolis Colts in the 2000 AFC wild card round.

Those Dolphins teams also had several of the NFL's most popular players that included former All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill and former Pro Bowl quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Both Hill and Tagovailoa dealt with off-field issues under McDaniel's watch. Hill -- in addition to his pending legal issues -- essentially asked to be traded following Miami's season-ending loss in 2024. Tagovailoa -- who was benched by McDaniel late in the 2025 season -- offered a public apology during the season after he criticized some of his teammates' attendances during players-only meetings. 

While Miami struggled during his final seasons, McDaniel's time with the Dolphins is also marked by his ability to help several players have career years, especially on the offensive side of the ball. That list of players includes Mostert, who in 2023 was named to his only Pro Bowl after he rushed for a league-high 18 touchdowns. His ability to help maximize the talents of some of his skill players in Miami is undoubtedly one of the reasons why McDaniel has been hired to lead the Chargers' offense. 

Speaking of the Chargers, it's safe to say that there will not be a reunion this offseason between McDaniel and Mostert, who is currently a free agent.