According to multiple reports, Brian Flores has wasted little time in finding his six finalists for the Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator position. Those six candidates bring a variety of experience and include both external and internal options. More intriguing, the reports link both pro and college coaches with the open position.
The change in offensive coordinator follows the resignation of longtime NFL coach Chan Gailey last week. Despite finishing the season with a 10-6 record, Gailey came under intense fire from Dolphins fans throughout the second half of the campaign. While some blamed Gailey for the performance of rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, others lamented Gailey’s poor play calling.
Miami Dolphins Offensive Coordinator Finalists
No matter the reason for Gailey’s resignation, one thing is certain. The Miami Dolphins will have a new offensive coordinator next season. According to the above reports, the external finalists for the job include Clemson University offensive coordinator Tony Elliott, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback coach Pep Hamilton, San Francisco 49ers run game coordinator Mike McDaniel, and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback coach Matt Canada.
Also included in these reports are two candidates from within the Miami Dolphins coaching staff. They are tight end’s coach George Godsey and running back’s coach Eric Studesville. With one of these six almost certain to land the job, let’s take a quick look at each and see just what they can bring to the table.
Tony Elliott — Clemson University — Offensive Coordinator
A former wide receiver for the team back in the early 2000’s, Tony Elliott joined the Clemson University coaching staff back in 2011. Serving as the Tigers’ running back’s coach at that time, Elliott has worked his way up through the ranks at Clemson. Becoming the Tigers’ co-offensive coordinator back in 2015, Elliott secured the full-time job at the start of this season while still remaining as the team’s running back’s coach.
Named as college football’s top assistant coach back in 2017, Elliott has quietly become one of the most sought after offensive minds in the country. While some of Elliott’s success can be attributed to Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the Tigers’ 40-point performance at Notre Dame this season without Lawrence can be pointed towards to show Elliott’s skill as a coach.
However, a recent tweet from former ESPN reporter Josina Anderson indicates that Elliott will turn down the Dolphins in order to remain at Clemson.
Pep Hamilton — Los Angeles Chargers — Quarterback Coach
Possessing the deepest resume of any candidate for the Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator position, Pep Hamilton has to be considered a frontrunner for the job. A longtime coach in both college and the NFL, Hamilton has held every possible offensive job. The high points of Hamilton’s career include his time as offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts when he coached then-rookie Andrew Luck for two-and-a-half seasons.
Also of note for Hamilton was his two seasons as Stanford University’s offensive coordinator, his assistant head coaching job at the University of Michigan, and his brief stint as head coach of the XFL’s DC Defenders. Most recently, Hamilton has served as the quarterback coach for the Los Angeles Chargers and is attributed with the rapid rise of rookie quarterback Justin Herbert.
Given his experience and skill in coaching young quarterbacks, Hamilton could be the perfect fit for both the Miami Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa.
Mike McDaniel — San Francisco 49ers — Run Game Coordinator
A member of the Mike Shanahan coaching tree, the 37-year-old Mike McDaniel has been hailed as a future offensive genius. Joining Kyle Shanahan’s staff back in 2017, McDaniel has quietly built up his coaching profile. Beloved by both his fellow coaches as well as the team’s offensive players, McDaniel is today, one of the NFL’s hottest coaching properties.
However, there are some concerns about McDaniel. Namely, McDaniel has never held a job as an offensive coordinator. In fact, McDaniel has, for the most part, been hired as just an offensive assistant. His current position as the run game coordinator is his highest title held to date.
Despite this, the fact that he comes from both the Mike and Kyle Shanahan coaching tree is a huge plus. Just this fact alone could tempt a team like the Miami Dolphins to take a chance on McDaniel’s unproven talent.
Matt Canada — Pittsburgh Steelers — Quarterback Coach
A longtime offensive coordinator in the college ranks, Matt Canada is an extremely puzzling candidate. On one hand, Canada possesses a large swath of experience. Having served as offensive coordinator for Butler, Northern Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, LSU, and Maryland, Canada is definitely one of the most experienced coaches on this list.
However, despite this, Canada has held just a single job at the NFL level. Serving as quarterback coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season, Canada is a controversial finalist to say the least. While his career in college proves he can work with young quarterbacks, his lack of NFL experience and overall success is troubling.
Unlike other candidates though, Canada could have an inside track to the job. He reportedly consulted with Miami Dolphins back in 2019.
George Godsey — Miami Dolphins — Tight Ends Coach
Serving as the Miami Dolphins tight end’s coach since 2019, George Godsey possesses a vast amount of experience. Spending three seasons on Bill Belichick’s coaching staff between 2011 and 2013, Godsey is potentially the second most experienced candidate behind Pep Hamilton. Like Hamilton, Godsey also has experience as an offensive coordinator in the NFL.
Joining Bill O’Brien in Houston, Godsey served as the Texans offensive coordinator for two seasons. Since that time, Godsey has held coaching jobs with both the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. As an internal candidate, Godsey possesses a major advantage given his familiarity with the team and head coach Brian Flores.
Another factor in his potential hiring? During the second half of this past season, Godsey worked with Tua Tagovailoa on game days.
Eric Studesville –Miami Dolphins — Running Backs Coach
A long time coaching assistant, Eric Studesville has worked for a number of NFL teams over his career. Joining the Miami Dolphins back in 2018, Studesville has served as both the running back’s coach as well as the run game coordinator. Given Miami’s moderate success in the ground game given the lack of talent, Studesville has definitely earned some consideration.
Spending the last 20+ years as an NFL assistant, Studesville has been a running game specialist. Holding jobs with the Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, and the Dolphins, Studesville clearly has the experience to coach at this level.
One big question though will be whether head coach Brian Flores prefers him in his current position. Given the run game results, Flores may prefer to keep Studesville at his current job.
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