The Miami Dolphins have plenty of change set to be on full display this season. 
One of the more overlooked phases of change that the Dolphins have undertaken is often considered to be an afterthought — special teams. The NFL has made some changes to bring special teams contributions back into the forefront via the kickoff rules, making a reliable unit that can execute on returns and coverage alike a vital piece of the puzzle for a successful team.
Aside of Jason Sanders' field goal kicking, Miami has had nearly nothing to show for special teams work under Mike McDaniel. But sweeping changes to the unit could set the stage for a dramatically different feel in 2025.
How bad have special teams been for Miami?
The Dolphins have ranked 28th, 23rd, and 28th in special teams expected points added (EPA) over the last three seasons. Their EPA totals on special teams across the last three years combined rank 30th in the NFL. Miami has no return touchdowns since 2022, ranks 22nd in yards per return on kickoff, 21st in yards per return on punts — these are all middling numbers. But the kick coverage rates are, frankly, appalling. Miami ranks dead last in yards allowed per kick return (27.8) and 27th in yards allowed per punt return.
Miami's conceded three touchdowns on returns of any kind — only the New England Patriots (four) have allowed more since the start of the 2022 season. They've had three field goals blocked over that period of time as well, which ranks as the sixth-worst mark in football.
Who is out for the Dolphins?
The numbers are overwhelming. The more you look, the worse it gets. But again, there's hope for Miami because the team took a blowtorch to almost all things 'special teams' in 2025.
Special teams coordinator Danny Crossman was dismissed this offseason. He had held the role from 2019 through 2024, with the 2020 season serving as the high-point. The team's leading snap taker since 2022 on special teams was linebacker Duke Riley, who logged more than 1,000 snaps in various roles. He was was guilty of multiple gaffes last season and not re-signed in the offseason. Defensive back Siran Neal signed a one-year deal with Miami this past offseason and led the team in special teams snaps in 2024. He was not retained after the season either. Tight end Durham Smythe was also among the team's top-10 special teams snap takers of the last three seasons. He was waived this winter.
Other prominent special teams snap takers from the past three seasons include safety Elijah Campbell (871 snaps) and linebacker Channing Tindall (587 snaps). They both rank in the top-five for Dolphins players since 2022 — neither is guaranteed a spot on the final roster.
Neither is punter Jake Bailey, who will compete head-to-head with former All-Pro Ryan Stonehouse for the punter job in 2025. Long-time long-snapper Blake Ferguson was released after missing three-quarters of the year with an unspecified personal issue.
Who is stepping in?
For those keeping score at home, the special teams coordinator is gone. The punter is in an open competition. The long-snapper was replaced, the team's top snap-takers on kick coverage and return units are all gone, too.
The key role belongs to Craig Aukerman, the new special teams coordinator. He was most recently the special teams coordinator in Tennessee with the Titans. His teams ranked 10th, 24th, 20th, 11th, 15th and 21st in special teams EPA during his six-year stint. Aukerman was fired in 2023 from the Titans after the team allowed two blocked punts in the same game, the second of which hurt their punter, Ryan Stonehouse, and ended his season.
Long-snapper Joe Cardona will replace Ferguson after a decade of snapping in New England with the Patriots, while Stonehouse tries to push punter Jake Bailey off his spot in training camp. Moving on from Bailey would save the Dolphins nearly $2 million in salary cap space. Young defenders like Dante Trader Jr., Patrick McMorris, linebacker K.J. Britt, plus names like Quinton Bell and. potentially, returning players such as Tindall and Campbell could make up a large chunk of the coverage units. Fullback Alec Ingold will surely find his opportunities here as well.
Second-year wide receiver Malik Washington ended his rookie season on a high-note as a returner, giving the Dolphins their best signs of life in that role in several seasons despite having names with return experience that included Jevon Holland, Tyreek Hill, Raheem Mostert, Jaylen Waddle, and more. Washington made a key return at the end of Miami's home game against the New York Jets to help set up a short field and a game-tying score before the end of regulation.
Washington is one of just a handful of names you'll probably see in a similar spot in 2025 to where he played on special teams in 2024. And, based on everyone's total body of work, that's probably a good thing.
