Seeking the offensive

Search for new coordinator begins with several intriguing candidates

The Miami Dolphins will interview two current assistant coaches and at least four other outside candidates for their vacant offensive coordinator position.

Along with tight ends coach George Godsey and running backs coach Eric Studesville, the Dolphins plan to interview Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott, Los Angeles Chargers quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks coach Matt Canada and 49ers run game coordinator Mike McDaniel.

The Dolphins are in the market for their third offensive coordinator in as many offseasons since Brian Flores became coach in 2019.

The new assistant coach must bring out the best of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and the team’s offense, which struggled at times during the 2020 season.

The candidates, first reported by NFL Network and ESPN, have a wide range of college and/or NFL experience that could help the Dolphins in their search.

Hamilton, 46, is considered one of the best quarterback coaches in the league and helped Chargers starter Justin Herbert break several rookie records in their first season working together.

Hamilton, who coached at Howard, Stanford and Michigan, has had several NFL coaching stints, including the New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns. He also had a brief head coaching stint in the XFL last year.

Elliott, 41, became the sole offensive coordinator at Clemson last season, following four seasons of being co-offensive coordinator when he coached quarterback Deshaun Watson. Elliott was also Clemson’s running backs coach for 10 years.

Flores had former Clemson defensive line coach Marion Hobby on his staff for the last two seasons.

Canada, 48, just finished his first season with the Steelers, but worked as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at several colleges, including Butler, Northern Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, NC State, Pittsburgh, LSU and Maryland.

McDaniel, 37, has worked with Kyle Shanahan since 2011, making stops with Washington Football Team, the Atlanta Falcons and 49ers.

Godsey and Studesville have been members of Flores’ staff the last two seasons.

Godsey, 42, saw his role elevated to working directly with Tagovailoa last season. He was an offensive coordinator with the Houston Texans from 2015-16, and coached quarterbacks with the Detroit Lions in 2018.

Studesville, 53, has been a running backs coach in the NFL since 1997, working with the Bears, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos and Dolphins.

Chan Gailey, 69, resigned after one season as the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator earlier this month. He was hired out of a three-year retirement by Flores to coach Tagovailoa while reuniting with veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Flores fired friend and former offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea after the 2019 season.

DOUG MURRAY/AP Chargers quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton warms up with quarterback Justin Herbert before a game against the Dolphins. Hamilton is one of several candidates for the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator position made vacant after Chan Gailey’s resignation.