Five things to know about Chris Tabor, the Dolphins’ first coordinator hire for the Jeff Hafley regime
Five things to know about the new Dolphins special teams coordinator.
Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley has secured his first major hire.
The news dropped on Friday evening that the Dolphins were signing on their first coordinator of the Jeff Hafley era — and it was a coach whose unit the Dolphins saw up close and in person twice in 2025. Former Buffalo Bills special teams coordinator, Chris Tabor has joined the team. Tabor shared a staff with Hafley in 2014 and 2015, where he served as Cleveland’s special teams coordinator while Hafley coached defensive backs. What else stands out about Tabor’s resume? Here are five things to know.
Five things to know about new Dolphins special teams coordinator Chris Tabor
1. Tabor has coached a trio of All-Pro returners, including one in 2025
Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis was named first-team All-Pro as a returner in 2025. He averaged nearly 30.5 yards per return on 31 returns. Tabor coached Devin Hester from 2008 through 2010, including an All-Pro season in 2010. Hester led the league in kick return yards and touchdowns (3) that season. In Cleveland, returner Josh Cribbs made the Pro Bowl in Tabor’s second season with the Browns as the special teams coordinator.
2. His Panthers special teams units in 2022 & 2023 ranked 6th in the NFL in EPA
The Panthers’ special teams unit under Tabor in Carolina was a good group. Kicker Eddy Pineiro made 33 of 35 field goals in 2022. Punter Johnny Hekker averaged 48.5 yards per punt in 2022, then 46.8 yards per punt in 2023. Nearly half of his 81 punts were downed inside the opposing 20-yard line during that 2022 season, too. In 2023, young returner Ihmir Smith-Marsette led the league in punt returns and tied for the league-lead in punt return touchdowns.
3. He’s served as a replacement head coach for an NFL franchise…twice
Tabor served as the interim head coach of the Carolina Panthers in 2023, posting a 1-5 record across the final six games after the team dismissed Frank Reich. But his first head coaching role was a much more unique circumstance — he stepped in for Matt Nagy for one game in Chicago during the 2020 season after Nagy tested positive for COVID-19. The 5-1 Bears lost on Monday Night Football 24-10 to the Los Angeles Rams in Tabor’s head coaching debut.
4. His Bills unit in 2025 needed a combined six kickers & punters to get through the season
Mitch Wishnowsky, Cameron Johnston, and Brad Robbins all punted for at least one game for Buffalo in 2025. Matt Prater handled the primary kicking duties but Michael Badgley did kick for two games for the Bills. That’s before you include primary starting kicker Tyler Bass, who had a hip/groin issue and missed the entire season. Credit for any coach that needs three kickers and three punters to get through the season — he was battle tested in adversity at the very least.
5. Tabor’s Bills unit ranked 4th in special teams penalties in 2025
26 penalties for 239 penalty yards for Tabor’s group in 2025. The 26 penalties ranked fourth highest. The 239 yards ranked third-highest. In 2023, Tabor’s Panthers unit ranked 6th most in yardage. 2022, they ranked first. This unit will push the envelope — but they must reign in the yellow hankies in 2026 for a Dolphins franchise that isn’t going to have the luxury of talent or the margin of error to absorb lost yardage.