Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel stands on table for Zach Wilson: 'Been through some s**t'

Zach Wilson joined the Miami Dolphins this offseason, and head coach Mike McDaniel loves the experience he brings to the quarterback position. On Tuesday, McDaniel talked to reporters about how Wilson’s experience will help him in Miami.

“Coming in, I’m going to challenge the guy because at the quarterback position, you are supremely challenged every drive, every quarter,” Mike McDaniel said, per Pro Football Talk. “He looks like a guy that has been through some s**t and found his way through it, because it does not make him worse. He learns from it.

“And that’s realistically the best thing that’s gone on this offseason is I’ve seen a lot of people match those types of energies of supreme conviction in trying to be their very best, and you do that by boldly attacking stuff a lot of times that are uncomfortable.”

Mike McDaniel shares more on Zach Wilson

Zach Wilson began his NFL career in 2021 when the New York Jets selected him in the first round (No. 2 overall) in the draft. He was with the Jets for three seasons and threw for 6,293 yards with 23 touchdowns and 25 interceptions in 34 games with 33 starts. During the offseason last year, the Jets traded Wilson to the Denver Broncos, and Wilson did not see any action during the 2024 season.

In March of this year, Wilson signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Dolphins, and he’s looking to be the backup QB for Tua Tagovailoa. McDaniel also spoke to reporters about the adjustments Wilson had made on the timing of his throws.

“A guy like that — that’s continually working at his craft, who has supreme arm talent — it’s cool to watch him grow, particularly in our offense, because guys with arm talent always throw it late,” McDaniel said. “You have a stronger arm, [you might say], ‘I’ll just wait and see it.’ Go back to like John Elway and dudes with cannons. A guy with arm talent like that to challenge the play, the game of football, the quarterback position, the only reason I would even challenge him in that regard is because he has the power of, ‘Yeah, this game adjustment, or what coach is asking of me is minuscule, rabbit pellets, relative.’ So he’s exhibited that.”