The Miami Dolphins made a shakeup in their coaching ranks on Friday afternoon, one that many fans had begged for and another that left some doing a double take.
The team announced it fired special teams coach Danny Crossman and wide receivers coach Wes Welker.
Head coach Mike McDaniel issued the following statement as part of the release.
“I am grateful for Danny’s contributions and dedication to the Dolphins over the course of many seasons, as well as the numerous ways he helped me as a head coach,” McDaniel said. “I also want to thank Wes for his investment here. This was not a decision I came to lightly, but as I have evaluated the season and areas where we must improve, I believe that change is needed and am motivated to do what is best for the team as we move forward.”
The dismissal of Crossman, who has served as the Dolphins’ special teams coordinator since 2019, is one that many Dolphins fans have demanded for years. The Dolphins’ special teams units have been anything but, and this year was no exception. If not for Jason Sanders’ right foot, the unit would have had very little positive impact in the team’s performance in 2024.
Welker’s dismissal is a little bit more surprising. Welker oversaw a terrific season in 2023 by Miami’s top wide receiver duo, with Tyreek Hill reaching a league-leading 1799 receiving yards and Jaylen Waddle surpassing the 1000-yard mark at 1014.
However, the offense fell off a cliff in 2024, and the wide receivers took a giant step back as a group. That seemed to be excused by Hill dealing with what Drew Rosenhaus said this week was a broken wrist from before the season, terrible QB play with Tua Tagovailoa missing six games, and injuries striking River Cracraft and other members of the group. It appears, despite all of that, McDaniel didn’t like what he saw enough to let Welker go and find someone new.
And, well, the Dolphins’ top wideout was publicly displeased with the franchise immediately after the season-ending loss on Sunday as well as on social media the next day. Hill never mentioned Welker specifically, but it’s hard to dismiss that happening and the timing as pure consequence.
We’ll find out in the coming weeks who McDaniel will tap to fill these two roles as Miami begins its most important offseason of his and general manager Chris Grier’s tenure together.
