Dolphins keep Boyer, bring back Welker, part ways with a defensive coach
New Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel retained his incumbent defensive coordinator, hired a popular former player as the team’s wide receivers coach and dismissed the team’s defensive backs coach on Wednesday.
McDaniel confirmed on Joe Rose’s WQAM show that he is keeping coordinator Josh Boyer, who ran the defense in tandem with ousted coach Brian Flores last season. The Dolphins finished 18th in yards allowed and 15th in points permitted last season.
Boyer came with Flores from New England after the 2018 season. He initially served as Miami’s cornerbacks coach and became the team’s defensive coordinator in 2020.
According to a league source, the Dolphins hired five-time Pro Bowl receiver Wes Welker to coach the team’s wide receivers. Welker held the same job with the 49ers the past three seasons, where he worked alongside McDaniel.
Welker replaces Josh Grizzard as the Dolphins’ receivers coach.
The Dolphins also moved on from defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander, who was hired by Brian Flores two years ago. But defensive line coach Austin Clark is being retained, according to a source.
Welker, 40, began his coaching career as an offensive assistant with the Houston Texans in 2017 and 2018.
Undrafted out of Texas Tech, Welker began his pro career with the Chargers in 2004 before being waived and signing with the Dolphins.
He played three seasons with Miami, catching 96 passes for 1121 yards and a touchdown while returning 127 punts and 155 kickoffs, one of which went for a touchdown.
In 2007, the Dolphins traded Welker to New England for second- and seventh-round picks and his career blossomed with the Patriots, playing with Tom Brady.
Welker topped 100 catches in three of his six seasons with the Patriots, catching 572 passes and 37 touchdowns there before finishing his career with two seasons in Denver and one in St. Louis (2015).
Alexander helped develop young safeties Jevon Holland and Brandon Jones, but McDaniel opted not to retain him. This was Alexander’s first NFL coaching job; before joining the Dolphins, he coached defensive backs at the University of California.
Alexander interviewed for the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator job this week, but new coach Doug Pederson instead reportedly hired Mike Caldwell for the job.
Meanwhile, George Godsey - who was the Dolphins’ co-offensive coordinator and play-caller last season - took a job coaching tight ends for the Ravens, according to the Baltimore Sun.
McDaniel is expected to bring in a new offensive coaching staff. Earlier this week, he hired former 49ers assistant coach Jon Embree as tight ends coach.
According to multiple reports, McDaniel plans to interview former Miami Hurricanes and Chicago Bears receiver coach Curtis Johnson for a job.
Johnson has had two stints coaching for the Saints; he was an offensive assistant coach last season while also coaching wide receivers.
McDaniel plans to call the team’s plans but still intends to hire an offensive coordinator to help craft the game plan. Johnson and Falcons quarterback coach Charles London are among candidates for that job.
This story was originally published February 10, 2022 at 8:28 PM.
