For all we know, a new head coach is going to go scorched earth on the current collection of assistant coaches assembled in South Florida for the Miami Dolphins. It wouldn’t be the first time. But even the thorniest of rose bushes still has some roses on them — and I wouldn’t consider the Dolphins’ coaching staff anywhere close to the thorniest of bushes. Miami has several talented assistant coaches on their staff.

It’s not the first time things didn’t work out for a staff that had talent in South Florida. Remember Joe Philbin’s 2015 season? Philbin was fired just four games in with a staff that included future NFL head coaches Dan Campbell, Zac Taylor, and Ben Johnson on staff plus future defensive coordinators Terrell Williams and Lou Anarumo. This year’s staff probably doesn’t have that much future leadership on it. But it has several coaches I’m hoping the next head coach will find room for on his staff. Here are four assistant coaches I’m hopeful to see back in Miami under a new regime in 2026.

Four assistant coaches who should survive the Miami Dolphins’ coaching staff purge and stay in 2026

Cornerbacks coach Mathieu Araujo

Araujo interviewed for the New York Jets’ vacancy at defensive coordinator on Friday. He’s a young coach who has quickly worked his way up the coaching ranks after stops at Boston College & Yale in the college ranks. No position coach had a tougher assignment in 2025 than Araujo’s haphazardly assembled cornerback room — which was in flux with injuries all summer. By the end of the season, veteran cornerbacks Jack Jones and Rasul Douglas had settled into starting roles fairly well.

Araujo is a promising young standout coach and his interview in New York is reflective of that growing reputation.

Defensive line coach Austin Clark

No assistant on the staff has built up better sweat equity with their ability to pull the best out of players than Clark. Clark took over as the defensive line coach in Brian Flores’ final season in Miami and helped to develop both Zach Sieler and Christian Wilkins as standout stars. In 2024, he got a career-best year out of Da’Shawn Hand. His unit was a part of a franchise-record sack effort in 2023 under the direction of Vic Fangio as well.

Clark had an ambitious ask of his own in 2025 — molding a trio of rookie defensive tackles. Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips, and Zeek Biggers combined for 1,233 defensive snaps on the season. Grant, quietly, finished second in pressures (29) and third in run stops (20) among rookie defensive tackles this season. Clark’s five-year body of work speaks for itself.

Special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman

This one may be unpopular, as a kickoff return for a touchdown in Week 2 helped Miami lose a winnable game against the Patriots, while a mishandled onside kick against the Saints almost cost them another one. But the Dolphins’ special teams unit was a breath of fresh air versus their performance under former ST Coordinator Danny Crossman. The special teams units combined to rank 10th in the NFL in Expected Points Added (EPA) on special teams — their best performance in the third phase of the game since 2020.

Specialists Joe Cardona, Jake Bailey, and last minute signing Riley Patterson at kicker were all reliable.

Offensive line coach Butch Barry

Butch Barry has been around the block a bit. He’s been with Miami since 2023. Before that he was in Denver with the Broncos. Stints with the San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before that. He’s got good experience. And he’s got good rapport with a couple of players who have shown great growth under his watch. Right tackle Austin Jackson was a mess. 2023 gave him a career year and stabilized his play, injuries aside. Center Aaron Brewer came to Miami in 2024 via free agency and was named Second Team All-Pro in 2025. He’s been sensational. And second-year tackle Patrick Paul went from a raw but talented rookie to a reliable starter in his first season replacing Terron Armstead.

One would have to imagine the overlap with Jon-Eric Sullivan in Green Bay (2020) doesn’t hurt his case to be back if the right coach and system come into play.

Miami Dolphins News

Dolphins Head Coach Interview Tracker: Live updates on each coach the Dolphins are considering to lead their rebuild

Interview invitations and updates from the Dolphins hiring process.

Kyle Crabbs