Patriots interviewing Dolphins assistant for defensive coordinator job
The New England Patriots are interviewing a top Miami Dolphins assistant for the defensive coordinator role.
Outside linebacker coach Ryan Crow, who worked for newly hired Patriots coach Mike Vrabel when he was the head coach with the Tennessee Titans, is viewed as a candidate to lead Vrabel’s defense according to ESPN.
Crow, who just finished his first season as Dolphins outside linebackers coach, worked for Vrabel for six seasons (2018-23). He initially joined Vrabel’s staff as a defensive assistant, then as assistant special teams coach before spending three seasons as the coach of the outside linebackers.
In 2024 Crow worked with a unit that was depleted by injury and retirement considering Miami didn’t have Bradley Chubb all season because of the knee injury he suffered on New Years Eve of 2023, the knee injury Jaelan Phillips suffered four games into the season, and the unexpected retirement of Shaq Barrett, who told the team he wasn’t playing right before training camp opened.
Fortunately for the Dolphins, Chop Robinson, a former Penn State standout the Dolphins selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, blossomed as the season progressed.
Robinson only started one game last season, but he primarily played on passing downs, and contributed 26 tackles and six sacks. He was also credited with 14 quarterback hits and four pass deflections.
If Crow leaves that will be the third position Mike McDaniel has to fill. The Dolphins already have vacancies for a special teams coordinator and receivers coach after firing Danny Crossman and Wes Welker earlier this month.
And defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is a candidate for the New Orleans head coach opening.
This story was originally published January 21, 2025 at 7:31 AM.
