'Miamified' McDaniel: Dolphins Coach Becomes Meme, Roasted Online

Mike McDaniel's appearance went from electronics-store salesman to thriving South Beach cocaine dealer real quick.

August 21, 2024

Image: Mike McDaniel speaks at press conference with flashy shades, curly hair, and an overgrown beard.

Mike McDaniel is a changed man all thanks to the Magic City. Screenshot via X

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During a press conference on Wednesday in Tampa, the Miami Dolphins' head coach appeared noticeably different from his typical clean-cut look with a gelled-back hairstyle that a salesman would rock at Miami's new Micro Center location.

He showed up with an overgrown beard, flashy shades, and a curly mop as if he were auditioning for a role in The Hangover following the joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

And the internet loved it.

Many social media users gave his new look the meme treatment, joking that Miami has transformed the 41-year-old in just two years. (Took long enough — the Magic City isn't for the weak.)

"It only took two years in Miami for Mike McDaniel to go from Best Buy assistant manager to South Beach cocaine kingpin," one X user noted.

It only took two years in Miami for Mike McDaniel to go from Best Buy assistant manager to South Beach cocaine kingpin. pic.twitter.com/JxuKOZRU4C
— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) August 21, 2024

CBS Sports personality Aaron West had another take.

"Mike McDaniel look like he hit Miami exactly once (1x) for spring break and he had his whole life changed LMAO," he wrote.

Mike McDaniel look like he hit Miami exactly once (1x) for spring break and had his whole life changed LMAO pic.twitter.com/zKidiXQa77
— Aaron West (@oeste) August 21, 2024

Another user joked about the dichotomy of people's presence on Instagram versus LinkedIn with the juxtaposition of two photos of McDaniel.

Me on LinkedIn vs. Me on Instagram pic.twitter.com/wn01aHsbKb
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) August 21, 2024

One user said, "McDaniel looks like that one kid you grew up with from Kendall that started a SoundCloud."

Mike McDaniel looks like that one kid you grew up with from Kendall that started a sound cloud https://t.co/YIlWwcE5gi
— Johnny el marketer 🇨🇴 (@JohnnyPenagoss) August 21, 2024

For others, McDaniel's appearance is an ode to the Miami Vice days.

Mike McDaniel embracing the full Miami look of "Coke dealer shot off back of powerboat by Crockett and/or Tubbs." https://t.co/RXWbGTU0S8
— Rob Williams (@Robwilliams71) August 21, 2024

All McDaniel was missing was a gold Cuban link to be quintessential Miami.

Naomi Feinstein is a staff writer of Miami New Times where she primarily focuses on news. Naomi started her career with New Times as a summer intern in 2019, then returned as a fellow in August 2022 before joining the staff full-time in February 2023. She graduated from University of Miami where she contributed to the student-run newspaper, the Miami Hurricane. She holds a master’s degree and graduated with honors from the Columbia School of Journalism. In 2021, Naomi was recognized as the College Journalist of the Year from the Society of Professional Journalists of Florida, and she placed second for Best General News Story in the 2021 Pinnacle Awards.

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