The Miami Dolphins have announced the dismissal of special teams coordinator Danny Crossman and wide receivers coach Wes Welker following a disappointing 8-9 season that saw the team miss the playoffs.
**Danny Crossman: Tenure and Performance**
Danny Crossman, 57, joined the Dolphins in 2019 and had been serving as the special teams coordinator since 2022. With over two decades of NFL coaching experience, Crossman previously held positions with the Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, and Buffalo Bills. Under his guidance, Miami’s special teams units have been ranked near the bottom of the league over the past three seasons and were heavily penalized in 2024.
**Wes Welker: Coaching Contributions**
Wes Welker, 43, a former Pro Bowl wide receiver renowned for his time with the New England Patriots, transitioned into coaching in 2017. He joined the Dolphins’ staff in 2022 after coaching stints with the Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers. In his first two seasons with Miami, Welker contributed to one of the league’s top passing offenses. However, the 2024 season saw a decline, with the passing attack dropping to 15th in the league after leading the NFL the previous year. Notably, star receiver Tyreek Hill recorded 959 yards in 2024, his fewest since 2019.
**Official Statements**
Head coach Mike McDaniel expressed gratitude for both coaches’ contributions but emphasized the necessity of changes to achieve the team’s goals:
“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 … .”
**Implications for the Dolphins**
The departures of Crossman and Welker signal a strategic shift as the Dolphins aim to address deficiencies and enhance performance in key areas. The special teams unit’s struggles, marked by penalties and subpar rankings, along with the regression in the passing game, have been identified as critical factors in the team’s underperformance.
As the Dolphins enter the offseason, the organization will seek to fill these coaching vacancies with individuals capable of revitalizing both the special teams and receiving corps. The decisions made in the coming months will be pivotal in shaping the team’s prospects for the 2025 season and beyond.
For a more in-depth discussion on these coaching changes and their potential impact on the Dolphins’ future, you may find the following analysis insightful:
