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Dolphins Hire Craig Aukerman as Special Teams Coordinator

Jan 29, 2025 #Craig Aukerman

The Miami Dolphins have found their replacement for former special teams coordinator Danny Crossman, selecting Craig Aukerman for the role.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on January 28 that Aukerman will take over as the Dolphins’ new special teams coordinator.

Aukerman most recently coached for the Tennessee Titans in 2023, serving as both assistant head coach and special teams coach. He led the Titans’ special teams unit for six seasons under former head coach Mike Vrabel and was also part of the team’s coaching staff in 2017.

With 13 years of NFL special teams coaching experience, Aukerman now steps in for Crossman, who was dismissed on January 10 after three seasons in Miami.

Aukerman’s Coaching Background

Before entering the NFL in 2010, Aukerman coached at the college level, working with various position groups. His last college position was as the linebackers coach at Kent State in 2009.

He began his NFL career as a defensive assistant with the Denver Broncos but soon transitioned to special teams. In 2011, he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars as an assistant special teams coach. Three years later, he moved to the San Diego Chargers, where he served as a defensive quality control coach and assistant special teams coach before being promoted to special teams coordinator in 2016.

Aukerman has worked under Mike Malarkey twice, first with the Jaguars in 2012 and later with the Titans in 2017. When Vrabel became Tennessee’s head coach in 2018, Aukerman was promoted to special teams coordinator. He remained in that role for six seasons, contributing to a Titans team that posted winning records from 2017 to 2021.

Dolphins Move On From Danny Crossman

Following a disappointing finish to the 2024 season, the Dolphins made several coaching staff changes, including replacing their special teams coordinator.

Crossman had been with Miami since 2022 but struggled to produce strong results.

“Crossman was one of the longest-tenured coaches on Miami’s staff and remained in his role when McDaniel was hired in 2022,” wrote ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques. “Since then, however, the Dolphins’ special teams unit ranks 21st in yards per punt return, 22nd in yards per kick return, and 32nd in opponents’ yards per kick return.

“Miami also committed 21 penalties on special teams this season, tied for fourth-most in the NFL.”

The Dolphins’ kick return coverage unit was also among the league’s worst in 2024.

Miami’s offseason coaching shake-up extended beyond special teams. The team also parted ways with wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Wes Welker after the passing attack dropped from first in 2023 to 15th in 2024. Injuries, including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missing six games, played a major role in that decline.

Since becoming the Dolphins’ head coach in 2022, Mike McDaniel has now fired three coordinators. Miami dismissed defensive coordinator Josh Boyer after the 2022 season and parted ways with Vic Fangio after just one year in 2023.

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