Mike Locksley recently signed an extension with Maryland that keeps him with the Terrapins through the 2026 season. Earlier this year, Locksley reportedly interviewed for an NFL head coaching job.

Matt Zenitz of On3 shared that Locksley was among the coaches to interview for the Miami Dolphins job.

Miami presumably interviewed Locksley because of his connection to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Locksley was Alabama’s co-offensive coordinator for Tagovailoa’s freshman season in 2017 and was promoted to sole OC for the 2018 season. As a sophomore, Tagovailoa threw for 3,966 yards and 43 touchdowns, earning consensus All-American recognition along with multiple national player of the year honors and the Maxwell Award.

Locksley’s bond with the Tagovailoa family led to Taulia Tagovailoa, Tua’s younger brother, transferring from Alabama to Maryland. The Terps are 13-23 under Locksley the last 3 seasons, including a 7-6 campaign in 2021 capped with a Pinstripe Bowl victory. (Maryland was also 1-5 under Locksley as an interim head coach in 2015.)

The Dolphins hired Mike McDaniel, the former offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers.