Miami Dolphins fire two assistants whose units struggled in 2024
The Miami Dolphins have fired two assistants whose units struggled mightily in 2024.
Special teams coach Danny Crossman and receiver coach Wes Welker won’t return to the staff next season, and will be replaced in the coming weeks.
Crossman has been with the Dolphins since the 2019 season when he was hired by Brian Flores. He was one of the few holdovers Mike McDaniel retained from Flores’ staff, but his unit struggled in some aspects of the special teams game the past three seasons.
This season there were a series of games where Miami’s coverage units fell short of expectations.
Welker, who had an accomplished 12-year career as a player, which includes a stint with Miami, spent the past three seasons coaching Miami’s receivers.
Welker was one of the first assistants McDaniel added to his coaching staffs, bringing the slot legend with him from the San Francisco 49ers coaching staff.
However, the receiver unit struggled this season as Tyreek Hill failed to produce a 1,000-yard season for the third time in his accomplished nine-year career, and Jaylen Waddle fell short of expectations. He failed to produce 1,000 yards, something he did his first three seasons, which is a franchise record.
However, Welker was an integral part of Malik Washington’s development. The former University of Virginia standout the Dolphins selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft started three games as a rookie and contributed 26 receptions for 233 yards and scored one touchdown.
“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’s helped me as a head coach,” McDaniel said in a prepared statement. “I also want to thank Wes for his investment here. This is 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.”
The Dolphins typically make staff changes in January and February, and some coaches leave on their own because their contracts expire and they opt to pursue other opportunities. Last year the Dolphins had the most significant amount of coaching turnover in a decade, but plenty of that had to do with McDaniel allowing newly hired defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver to build his own defensive staff.
This story was originally published January 10, 2025 at 3:38 PM.
