Late last week, the Miami Dolphins found a replacement for Wes Welker when they agreed to add former Dallas Cowboys wide receivers coach Robert Prince to Mike McDaniel’s coaching staff.
It was a nice signing (I think), but there was still one large void on Miami’s coaching staff. And after a year in which the special teams unit absolutely played a factor in Miami’s disappointing season (Not you, Jason Sanders!), it was time for McDaniel to move on from Danny Crossman and bring in another special teams coordinator in hopes of rejuvenating the unit.
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According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelisserro, McDaniel has found his guy — as the Dolphins plan to hire former Tennessee Titans special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman. The 48-year-old coordinator has not been in the league since 2023, when then Titans’ HC Mike Vrabel fired him after a Week 13 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Before being fired by Vrabel, Aukerman worked alongside the former Titans head coach for all six seasons in Tennessee. It wasn’t until his unit turned the ball over twice in a loss to the Colts that Vrabel finally decided to part ways with the veteran coach.
Prior to his time with the Titans, Aukerman was a special teams coordinator with the San Diego Chargers in 2016. He was also an assistant special teams coach in Tennessee (2013-2015) and Jacksonville (2011-2012) and a defensive assistant with the Denver Broncos in 2010.
He will now land in Miami to help repair a unit that struggled mightily in the return game. The Dolphins could use an upgrade at punter, but they may be okay with keeping consistency at the position if Jason Sanders continues to be money. Either way, I’m cautiously optimistic — which is all you can be at this point of the season.
What are your thoughts on the Miami Dolphins’ new special teams coordinator? Are you happy Danny Crossman is finally gone? What changes do you hope to see on special teams? Let us know in the comments section below!
