All Dolphins

Dolphins Have Their New Special Teams Coach

The Miami Dolphins will have a new special teams coordinator for the first time since 2018
Alain Poupart|
Craig Aukerman special teams coach during Tennessee Titans practice session at The Grove, Watford for their NFL London game last season.
Craig Aukerman special teams coach during Tennessee Titans practice session at The Grove, Watford for their NFL London game last season. | Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images

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Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins reportedly have their new special teams coordinator, and it's someone who was out of the NFL last season.

The team will be hiring former Tennessee Titans special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman, according to NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero, to fill the vacancy created when Danny Crossman was fired after six seasons on the job.

Aukerman was Titans special teams coordinator for five-plus seasons before he was fired in December 2023 after a disastrous day for the kicking game led to a loss against the Indianapolis Colts. In that game, the Titans had two punts blocked, including one that caused a season-ending knee injury to punter Ryan Stonehouse, and later a missed extra-point attempt with a replacement holder in a 31-28 overtime loss.

In Aukerman's six seasons in Tennessee, the Titans were a middle-of-the-pack group on special teams.

The team finished each season ranked between 14th and 24th in the special teams rankings compiled by Rick Gosselin based on 22 statistical categories. The best showing came in 2022, the worst in 2020. The Titans ranked 21st in 2023.

Aukerman interviewed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers special teams coordinator post in January of 2024, but the job eventually went to Thomas McGaughey.

Aukerman previously was special teams coordinator for the San Diego Chargers in 2016. His NFL coaching career began in 2010 when he was an assistant with the Denver Broncos.

The 48-year-old played wide receiver and defensive back at Findlay (Ohio) from 1995-98.

THE SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR HISTORY

Even though we called the idea of Darren Rizzi returning to his old position as Dolphins special teams coordinator, this obviously would shut that door.

Rizzi was special teams coordinator for nine seasons (2010-18) before leaving to join the New Orleans Saints after he interviewed for the head-coaching vacancy in early 2019 and getting bypassed in favor of Brian Flores.

While the Dolphins have changed coordinators on offense and defense quite frequently, they've had a lot of stability with the special teams. Aside from Crossman serving for six years and Rizzi for nine, Keith Armstrong held the role for seven seasons (2001-07).

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Alain Poupart
ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of Miami Dolphins On SI and host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press and the Dolphins team website. In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books, such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.

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