The Miami Dolphins, under new coach Jeff Hafley, continued to rapidly build the coaching staff through his first weekend on the job.
After promoting Bobby Slowik from within as offensive coordinator on Saturday, Hafley is bringing in the first position coach on his staff. The Dolphins are hiring Tyke Tolbert as wide receivers coach, according to a league source.
Tolbert is an experienced receivers coach, teaching the position in the NFL since 2003. He spent the past two seasons with the Tennessee Titans and has also had stints with the Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals.
With the 2015 Broncos, Tolbert was a Super Bowl-winning assistant coach who had Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders in his position group. He has also coached the likes of Odell Beckham Jr., Anquan Boldin, Steve Smith, Eric Moulds and Lee Evans.
Before Dolphins wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine had just 11 catches for 89 yards without a touchdown this past season in Miami, he had 32 receptions for 497 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024 under Tolbert’s tutelage in Tennessee.
The addition of Tolbert means Robert Prince, the longtime NFL receivers coach who led the position for the Dolphins on former coach Mike McDaniel’s staff last season, is looking elsewhere for a job next season.
According to NFL Network on Sunday morning, Prince interviewed for the Giants’ vacant offensive coordinator position.
Aside from Slowik and Tolbert, Hafley has also hired Chris Tabor as special teams coordinator since his official introduction Thursday.
For the open defensive coordinator role, Hafley interviewed former Miami Hurricanes assistant coach and player Clint Hurtt, who is Philadelphia Eagles defensive line coach and has been defensive coordinator with the Seattle Seahawks.