The Miami Dolphins are hiring Chris Tabor as their new special teams coordinator, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Tabor has played some role on special teams in the NFL since 2008. Most recently, he served as the Buffalo Bills’ special teams coordinator during the 2025 NFL season.
Tabor became the first coordinator to seek a better opportunity after head coach Sean McDermott was fired by the Buffalo Bills. It’s worth mentioning that Tabor is well respected in the league and even has experience serving as the interim head coach of the Carolina Panthers in 2023. That same year, he was also named the league’s second-best special teams coach by the NFL Players Association.
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The Dolphins have really struggled on special teams in the past, with Craig Oakman replacing Danny Crossman last season. After spending six straight seasons outside the top 15 (per Pro Football Focus) under Crossman, the Dolphins are looking to improve slightly in 2025.
More specifically, the Dolphins ranked 21st in field goal attempts (27), fourth in field goal percentage (93.1%), had zero kickoff return touchdowns, and had two blocked kicks (tied for the most in the league). However, the Dolphins also allowed five kickoff returns of 40 yards or more, ranking 26th in the league.
Fortunately, Tabor has the experience to turn around special teams teams. Tabor “made a big turnaround in his first season,” according to the Buffalo Bills media guide, helping the Panthers move from 28th to fourth in Rick Gosselin’s league-wide special teams rankings.
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Tabor is the first coordinator to be announced on new head coach Jeff Hafley’s staff, as Miami’s offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator have yet to be announced.
