Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is taking a cue from Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay. Following McVay’s decision to have assistant head coach Aubrey Pleasant take charge of a preseason game, McDaniel will reportedly turn over head coaching duties to assistant head coach and tight ends coach Jon Embree for the second half of Friday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dolphins assistant HC/TE coach Jon Embree will assume head coaching duties for the second half of tonight’s preseason game against the Bucs. The Dolphins are using this as a practice round in case Mike McDaniel ever has to miss a game (e.g. due to Covid).
McDaniel will continue to call plays for …
— Mike Cugno (@MikeCugnoCBS4) 23 August 2024
CBS Miami lead sports anchor Mike Cugno shared the news on social media Friday morning, noting that Embree’s time as head coach serves as a trial run and prepares him to step in if McDaniel is unavailable at any point during the season.
Embree was selected by the Rams in the sixth round of the 1987 NFL Draft and also spent time with the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos during his playing career.
Embree’s experience as an NFL player led him to move into coaching and eventually began his professional NFL coaching career as the tight ends coach for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2006 to 2008. He joined McDaniel’s staff in 2022 after serving four seasons as assistant head coach and tight ends coach for the San Francisco 49ers.
Miami’s Week 3 preseason game against the Buccaneers begins at 7:30 p.m. This opportunity for Embree to take the reins, even if it’s just for a half, could prove invaluable if the Dolphins run into trouble during the regular season. Embree’s experience and leadership skills could provide stability and continuity should Miami ever find themselves in that situation.
