THE Miami Dolphins parted ways with special teams coordinator Danny Crossman after spending six seasons in that role, first joining the team as a member of Brian Flores’ staff.
Pro Football Focus Ranked the Dolphins ranked 31st on special teams in 2024, a few spots worse than their 29th place in 2023. Among the mistakes made by the Miami unit was the inability to stop a fake punt by the Houston Texans that Crossman and Mike McDaniel said they had I knew it was coming.
“It was frustrating,” McDaniel said after the game. “When you raise awareness of a possibility and you lose on that possibility.”
So who will the Dolphins turn to in hopes of righting the ship? Here are five candidates who could fill the vacant position in Miami:
Ben Jacobs
Jacobs is a former NFL linebacker who played extensively on special teams before joining the coaching ranks as the assistant special teams coordinator for the Carolina Panthers. He then followed Ron Rivera to take the same role in Washington. In 2024, Jacobs joined the Cincinnati Bengals and again served as assistant special teams coordinator.
The Bengals were PFF’s top-ranked special teams unit, limiting opponents to 24.5 yards per kickoff return.
Jeremy Springer
The Patriots hired Springer as special teams coordinator in 2024 after spending two seasons as assistant special teams coordinator with the Rams. In its first season in New England, the team excelled in this phase.
But after a 4-13 season, the Patriots fired Jerod Mayo and the team is now looking for a new head coach. Springer could stay in New England with a new team, but if he becomes available, the Dolphins could hire a coach from an AFC East rival’s team.
Tom Quinn
Like Springer, Quinn joined Mayo’s New England staff in 2024. But the Patriots’ assistant special teams coordinator has much more experience.
Quinn, 56, spent 15 seasons in the college coaching ranks before spending 16 seasons coaching special teams with the New York Giants. That included an 11-year stint as the team’s special teams coordinator from 2007 to 2017, which saw the Giants win Super Bowls XLII and XLVI.
Chris Banjo
Banjo isn’t that far removed from his NFL experience, so he would be a risky but ambitious hire. The special teams ace spent 10 years in the league with the Packers, Saints and Cardinals before Sean Payton convinced him to hang up his cleats and enter the coaching ranks of his Broncos team.
“He’s been a special teams demon in this league for a decade, so he’s another great resource to have,” Broncos guard Michael Burton said. told the Denver Post in 2023. “Not only is he great as a coach and coach, but he has that experience as a player. He’s been a really great resource.”
Heath Farwell
![Jacksonville Jaguars special teams coordinator Heath Farwell watches the fourth quarter of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, August 17, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-7. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Pn41agXZePHixslO6LNiRg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYzOA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/miami_dophins_wire_usa_today_sports_articles_974/26c14e3c09de7c860c24844447237b8d)
Farwell spent the last three seasons as special teams coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and three years before that in the same role with the Buffalo Bills.
But after Doug Pederson was fired by the Jaguars earlier this month after three years, Farwell could be headed to his next stop in the NFL.
This article was originally published on Dolphins Wire: 5 Possible Candidates for Dolphins Special Teams Coordinator Vacancy
