The Miami Dolphins have extended head coach Joe Philbin's coach by a year until the end of the 2016 season. 

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross made the announcement on Monday at the NFL owners' meetings in Arizona. 

"You don't get the best from someone when operating with a gun to their head," said Ross about Philbin being on the hot seat.

In three years in the job, the Dolphins have gone 7-9, 8-8 and 8-8, and while Ross did not guarantee Philbin will still be in Miami after the 2016 season, he did say that "there has to be improvement".

"I believe in this team, I believe in the coach, we are building something," Ross told reporters after the Dolphins' final game of the regular season. 

"I have looked at the whole situation, as I have been looking at it all year. I think the coach has a year on his contract, we are bringing him back and, you know, what else can I tell you? 

"I think we are building something great here. He is the right guy for this team, and we are building something."