Third candidate surfaces for Dolphins’ offensive coordinator job
Los Angeles Chargers run-game coordinator and offensive line coach Frank Smith is interviewing for the job under new Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel on Saturday, according to an NFL Network report. He held the same role with the Chicago Bears from 2015 to 2017. Smith is the third known candidate up for Miami’ s offensive coordinator job after The Athletic reported...
A third candidate for the Miami Dolphins’ offensive coordinator opening surfaced on Saturday.
Los Angeles Chargers run-game coordinator and offensive line coach Frank Smith is interviewing for the job under new Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel on Saturday, according to an NFL Network report.
Smith, 40, just completed his first season in that role for the Chargers and is largely credited for turning around a line that struggled in 2020 before he arrived.
Smith also has a background in developing tight ends. He was tight ends coach for the Oakland and Las Vegas Raiders from 2018 to 2020, working with one of the league’s best at the position in Darren Waller. He held the same role with the Chicago Bears from 2015 to 2017. Smith’s first NFL job came under former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, as assistant offensive line coach from 2010 to 2014.
Smith, a Miami (Ohio) grad, was a college coach before that, holding the role of offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Butler from 2007 to 2009 and leading the line in the 2006 season. He was a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 2004 and 2005.
Smith is the third known candidate up for Miami’s offensive coordinator job after The Athletic reported Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks coach Charles London and Pro Football Network reported on New Orleans Saints wide receivers coach Curtis Johnson within the week since McDaniel was hired. Johnson has a history in Miami as the Hurricanes’ wide receivers coach from 1996 to 2005, leading some great players like Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Santana Moss and Devin Hester.
McDaniel will hire Boston College assistant Matt Applebaum to coach the Dolphins’ offensive line, according to an ESPN report.
McDaniel, on top of the offensive coordinator vacancy, still has a critical opening to fill at quarterbacks coach.
He also has two open spots for defensive assistants after retaining a slew of coaches on that side of the ball from former coach Brian Flores’ previous staff on Friday, including defensive coordinator Josh Boyer.