The Miami Dolphins were reported several weeks ago to have a list of six potential offensive coordinator hires that the team was interested in interviewing in the wake of Chan Gailey’s departure from the coaching staff. On the heels of Miami’s 2020 season, the Dolphins face a critical task — find the right coach to call plays and build structure around a young quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa.
Of the six possible candidates, the Dolphins have just two remaining; the two assistant coaches already under contract with the team. The final known external candidate, former Chargers QB coach Pep Hamilton, will be taking a job in Houston according to reports last night; ending a waiting game that stretched for weeks.
Big hire in the works for the #Texans: They're expected to bring in Pep Hamilton as quarterbacks coach, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 28, 2021
The writing on the wall from afar? Miami probably likes what they saw this week from Eric Studesville or George Godsey and with Miami edging closer to making a decision between their internal candidates, Hamilton was spurred into action to take an assistant gig knowing he would not be getting the job in Miami.
Hamilton had also interviewed in Pittsburgh for their offensive coordinator vacancy but ultimately did not generate the momentum needed to secure a play caller’s role. For the Dolphins, it certainly seems as though this was a decision the team made. You don’t “miss out” on a candidate if you interview him two weeks back and never offer him the position. That’s the good news for Miami.
Even better news for all involved? We’re reaching the end of the road, here. The Dolphins are getting close to having to make a decision, mercifully. And with the final stretch of their bonus evaluation window coming to a close tomorrow in Mobile, Alabama, we may see some prompt action on who will be the offensive coordinator by early next week.
Or who knows. Maybe even then we won’t get an answer.