AVENTURA, FLA. (WSVN) - - Although Santa could not give the Miami Dolphins a win on Christmas Day, he made his list and checked it twice to make sure the players could receive other gifts they wanted.
Head Coach Mike McDaniel said he would want another addition to his family.
“One of the most magical Christmas gifts that I ever had was in 2020,” said McDaniel. “[It was] the first Christmas that I had a daughter. If I could ever experience something like that, talk to my wife, and convince her we should have a second kid, it’d probably be the best gift I could ever get.”
Santa could work some magic with that request by getting McDaniel and his wife a romantic dinner date.
Other players wanted to relive childhood memories with gifts they received when they were younger.
“I remember I got an Xbox when I was around 10 years old,” said Jaelan Phillips. “That was the craziest thing to me. My dad kept telling me he wasn’t going to get me one but then he surprised us with it one year — or Santa did.”
Ol’ Saint Nick would get Phillips a gaming console that was a little more up-to-date.
Another Dolphins player appreciated a different kind of game when he was younger.
“I just enjoyed sports so, whether it be hockey sticks or basketball, or whatever the case was,” said Andrew Van Ginkel. “I wouldn’t be too mad if I got something like that again.”
Some players thought about what Santa could bring for their own children.
“My son, wanted the fishes from ‘Finding Nemo,’ Marlin and Dory, so he wants those two,” said Xavien Howard. “My daughter wants a bunny and my older daughter wants a hoverboard.”
Michael Deiter had another gift in mind for his own team.
“[What I’d ask] from Santa — a Superbowl, if I could ask for that,” said Deiter.
Santa might not have that much magic to present a Superbowl for the team, but he believes in the hard work and dedication the players bring into each game.
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