At one point after the 2021 season, the Miami Dolphins planned to take a big swing.

Per multiple sources, the Dolphins initially hoped to pursue Sean Payton as coach and Tom Brady as quarterback. The plan was scrapped after Brian Flores filed his lawsuit against the NFL and the Dolphins, New York Giants and Denver Broncos.

The Dolphins have since hired Mike McDaniel as head coach and Tua Tagovailoa remains the starting quarterback.

Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores has a new home.

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced the hire of Flores, who is suing the NFL and three teams, as a defensive assistant and linebackers coach Saturday.

"I am excited about Brian Flores joining our coaching staff given his history of developing and teaching defensive players during his time in the NFL," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in a news release. "Brian's resume speaks for itself, and I look forward to him adding his expertise to help our team."

Mike McDaniel has talked about getting "greatness" out of Tua Tagovailoa since becoming the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, but he's also focused on young receiver Jaylen Waddle.

Waddle set a rookie record with 104 catches during the 2021 season.

"I talked with him [the day after being hired] and he understands his leadership role on this team," McDaniel said on The Dan LeBatard Show. "The easiest way to get yards is to give it to a really talented player. I would start him in fantasy."

The Miami Dolphins will hire Frank Smith as offensive coordinator.

Smith will work in conjunction with Mike McDaniel, who will call plays, and wide receivers coach Wes Welker, who will help develop Miami's passing game plan.

Smith, 40, joins McDaniel's staff after a season as the Los Angeles Chargers' run game coordinator and offensive line coach.

Stephen Ross could be forced to sell the Miami Dolphins if the NFL concludes that he offered Brian Flores a bonus of $100,000 per loss in 2019.

The NFL's investigation is expected to conclude that Ross did make the offer. There is a sense emerging that Ross will claim he was joking. 

As one source opined, “I doubt Roger [Goodell] will have any sympathy for that defense.”

Ross bought the Dolphins in 2009. 

If the NFL's investigation into tanking allegations against the Miami Dolphins and owner Stephen Ross are proven true, Ross could lose control of the franchise by owner vote, according to a report.

The league is currently investigating the Dolphins after former coach Brian Flores alleged in a recent lawsuit that Ross offered him money to lose games.

Owners can vote a fellow owner out under the most dire circumstances based on league rules, which would require a three-fourths vote.

The Miami Dolphins have retained Josh Boyer as defensive coordinator.

Boyer first came to Miami in 2019 under then-head coach Brian Flores. Prior to his arrival in south Florida, Boyer spent 12 years with the New England Patriots as a defensive assistant, defensive backs coach and cornerbacks coach.

Mike McDaniel is in the process of putting together his defensive staff but said he decided to keep Boyer on staff after meeting with him this week.

"You learn that when something's not broke [you don't fix it]," McDaniel told ESPN. "There's also relationships with players that come into it, there's the scheme itself, and then there's the human relationships. There's a good amount of time that I spent with Josh before I made that decision. All of those things contribute and then relying on the people that hired me that were in the building with him. This is not something that you just all of a sudden say, 'Just keep him, I don't feel like looking into stuff.' It's a calculated decision that's very informed -- and I think the proof is in the pudding. That's a top-10 defense last year that I would not want to play against.

"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

The Miami Dolphins have agreed to a deal with San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel to make him their next head coach.

McDaniel will receive a four-year contract.

Kellen Moore, the offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, was the other finalist for the position.

Miami fired Brian Flores on January 10.

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has responded to allegations made by Brian Flores in a lawsuit Tuesday, calling them "false, malicious and defamatory" and promising to defend his "personal integrity" as well as that of the organization.

Flores filed a lawsuit in federal court against the NFL and three teams -- the Dolphins, New York Giants and Denver Broncos -- alleging racial discrimination in hiring practices.

Flores alleges that Ross offered him $100,000 per loss during the 2019 season -- his first as head coach -- in an attempt to "tank" to strengthen the value of the Dolphins' draft pick.

Ross responded publicly to the allegations in the lawsuit for the first time Wednesday night.

"With regards to the allegations being made by Brian Flores, I am a man of honor and integrity and cannot let them stand without responding," he said in a statement provided to multiple media outlets.

"I take great personal exception to these malicious attacks, and the truth must be known. His allegations are false, malicious and defamatory. We understand there are media reports stating that the NFL intends to investigate his claims, and we will cooperate fully. I welcome that investigation and I am eager to defend my personal integrity, and the integrity and values of the entire Miami Dolphins organization, from these baseless, unfair and disparaging claims."

Brian Flores alleges that Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offered to pay him $100,000 per loss to enhance the team’s draft position in 2019.

Flores also alleges that Ross also pressured Flores to recruit a “prominent quarterback in violation of League tampering rules” but did not name the player in question.

The allegations are contained within a lawsuit filed by Flores. Flores is suing the NFL and multiple teams alleging unfair treatment of Blacks as head coaches, coordinators and general managers in the NFL.