Dolphins' McDaniel addresses Ryan Crow's arrest, names replacement while assistant on leave

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel on Monday got out in front of any questions on the arrest of assistant coach Ryan Crow, who faces a charge of domestic violence battery, as the team reconvened ahead of its opener against the Indianapolis Colts following a weekend off.

McDaniel opened his Monday morning new conference with a statement on the matter, saying Crow’s previously announced administrative leave is indefinite.

“I’ll start today by addressing the situation with Ryan Crow,” McDaniel said Monday. “He’s been placed on leave indefinitely, and we’re going to let the process play out. The allegations, we take extremely serious, and from an organization standpoint, from the whole spectrum of guilty all the way to innocent, rule No. 1 for our team is protect the team. And the headlines are ‘Dolphins,’ and they affect all players, all coaches, all staff members, all fans, all media members. If you’re to be on a team, it’s a blessing that you have to have regard for things much bigger than yourself.

“So, rule No. 1 is protect the team for reasons such as that, and that one was violated. However, rule No. 2 on our team out of our three team rules is no excuses. Adversity is an opportunity, and we have an opportunity to focus this week.”

McDaniel named Crow’s replacement at outside linebackers coach while the assistant is on leave, senior defensive assistant Sean Ryan.

Crow slapped his live-in girlfriend and left her looking “terrified” and sounding as if she were “whimpering,” according to a Fort Lauderdale police report Friday morning shortly after midnight.

According to the report, the dispute between Crow and his girlfriend began Thursday night at a “work party” where she felt neglected by other team employees and their wives. Crow, 37, is married and separated, according to the report. He moved in with his girlfriend recently near downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Crow’s girlfriend told police he shoved her while the two were in an argument about his relationship with his estranged wife. When they got home, according to two witnesses, the physical confrontation continued.

One witness said he saw Crow slap the victim and lift her off the ground, looking as though he intended to “perform a takedown,” though he did not follow through. The woman “looked terrified,” according to the report.

A second witness followed the couple to their apartment and listened from outside, where he told police he heard a “slap,” a “thud” and the sound of a woman “whimpering.”

Crow was taken into custody and charged with one count of domestic violence battery.

He was released on a $1,000 bond on Saturday.

As a condition of pretrial release, Broward County Court Judge Lauren Peffer said Crow must undergo a substance abuse evaluation within 10 days and comply with any recommendations. He also must refrain from alcohol and intoxicants and undergo random alcohol testing. He is prohibited from contacting his girlfriend, who is considered the victim.

“My client has no prior criminal record,” said Crow’s lawyer, Michael Gottlieb. “This was an unfortunate incident, fueled by alcohol, that resulted in the allegation of a shove. I am confident the charge will be dismissed.”

Crow was entering his second season as a member of the Dolphins’ coaching staff after spending the previous six with the Tennessee Titans.

He was on the rise as a defensive assistant, requested for interviews for defensive coordinator openings with the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys over the offseason. Those jobs were filled with other candidates, and Crow was back with the Dolphins in 2025.

He was bound to lead one of the team’s most talented position groups, headlined by top three edge rushers in Chop Robinson, Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips. The Dolphins also added veteran former Pro Bowl selection Matthew Judon to the unit during camp.

Ryan, who handles outside linebackers coach duties with Crow on leave, has extensive coaching experience beginning in 1998 and in the NFL since 2007. He won two Super Bowls on the 2007 and 2011 New York Giants.

All of his coaching experience, however, up until joining the Dolphins last season, was on the offensive side of the ball.

“We felt very fortunate to have him in the room for the last year and a half,” McDaniel said. “I feel very fortunate to have an established relationship, with him having an established relationship with all the guys.

“They were very excited for the opportunity to be led by him, based on my conversations this morning. … I think that it’s the relationships and the ownership of the scheme that make it a very convicted move for me.”

Chubb, announced as a captain for the team Monday, backed up McDaniel’s thoughts on his new position coach.

“He’s a leader of men, at the end of the day,” Chubb said. “We’ve seen it when he was in that secondary role in the room at first, and now, he’s the first guy in.”

He also feels Ryan has adjusted well to coaching defense.

“He’s soaked up a lot of knowledge on the defensive side of the ball,” Chubb said. “It’s going to be good for us because, seeing that offensive perspective, especially that quarterback perspective, that’s our main job to get after.”