3:04 p.m. ET
Marcel Louis Jacques ESPN
MIAMI — The Dolphins fired defensive coordinator Josh Boyer, the team announced Thursday, after four seasons with the franchise, the last three as defensive coordinator.
In addition to Boyer, the Dolphins also fired safety coach Steve Gregory, outside linebackers coach Ty McKenzie, and assistant linebackers coach Steve Ferentz.
“I’m grateful for Josh’s contributions this year and throughout his tenure with the Dolphins,” head coach Mike McDaniel said in a statement. “The defense has made progress throughout the season so coming to this decision wasn’t easy, but ultimately I think it’s in the best long-term interests of the Miami Dolphins and the continued growth of our players and our team.”
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The Dolphins suffered multiple season-ending injuries this season at key starters, including cornerbacks Byron Jones and Nik Needham, safety Brandon Jones, and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah. To get their exhausted defense back on track, they traded for Pro Bowl linebacker Bradley Chubb in November and signed him to a five-year, $110 million deal days after he took over.
While Miami possessed the fourth-best running defense in the league, it also ranked 21st in expected defensive points added, 22nd in sacks per pass attempt, and 24th in points allowed per game and third-last percentage. A defense that ranked in the top 10 takeaways in each of the previous two seasons struggled to generate turnovers in 2022 and ended with just 14 takeaways — tied on points with the second lowest in the NFL.
Boyer was kept on staff after the Dolphins fired then-head coach Brian Flores after the 2021 season in hopes his unit could maintain productivity from the second half of last season when it led the NFL in defensive EPA.
Boyer first came to Miami in 2019 under Flores. Before arriving in South Florida, Boyer spent 12 years with the New England Patriots as a defensive assistant, defensive backs coach and cornerbacks coach.
“You learn that when something isn’t broken [you don’t fix it]’ McDaniel told ESPN in February last year. “There’s also relationships with players that come into play, there’s the scheme itself and then there’s the human relationships. I spent a lot of time with Josh before making this decision. All those things contribute to that and then rely on the people who hired me and who were in the building with him. It’s not something where you suddenly say, ‘Just keep it, I don’t feel like messing with stuff.’ It’s a calculated decision that’s very well founded – and I think the proof is in the pudding. That’s a top 10 defense from last year that I don’t want to play against.
“If you can’t beat them, join them.”
Opening the Dolphins as defensive coordinator should be an attractive position, with the likes of Xavien Howard, Jevon Holland, Christian Wilkins, Jaelan Phillips and Chubb all signed for at least next season.