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Dolphins May Have Their Special Teams Coordinator

Originally posted on Dolphins Talk | By Mike Oliva | Last updated Jan 21, 2026 6:32 PM ET

Dolphins May Have Their Special Teams Coordinator

Todd Archer, who covers the Dallas Cowboys for ESPN, reports the Miami Dolphins have requested permission to speak with Carlos Polk, the Cowboys’ assistant special teams coordinator, regarding the team’s vacant special teams coordinator position.

Polk is 48 years old and was a 4th-round pick by the San Diego Chargers in 2001 as a linebacker. He played for the Chargers between 2001 and 2007.

In 2008, his final year in the league, he played for the Dallas Cowboys.

Polk then got into coaching and has been an assistant special teams coach for the Chargers, Cowboys, Jaguars, Bears, and then for the Cowboys again in the role he currently has.

The Dolphins have requested permission to speak with Cowboys assistant special teams coach Carlos Polk for their special teams coordinator opening, per source. No word yet on if Miami has asked yet about QB coach Steve Shimko, who was Jeff Hafley’s OC at Boston College.

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) January 21, 2026

There are rumblings that Miami may also have interest in another Cowboys coach, their quarterbacks coach, Steve Shimko.

Shimko was the quarterback coach and offensive coordinator at Boston College when Jeff Hafley was the head coach.

Many believe Shimko could be in the running to be the next Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator.

Jonathan Jones, the NFL Insider for CBS Sports, says to keep an eye on Minnesota Vikings passing game coordinator Brian Angelichio as someone that Jeff Hafley may hire as his offensive coordinator.

Hafley has worked with Angelichio off and on for two decades, first at the University of Pittsburgh, then at Rutgers, and later when they were both on the same staff at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns.

With Hafley accepting this position late Monday afternoon, I would expect we will start to hear about staff additions and hirings over the course of the next couple of weeks, most likely.

No word if Hafley will retain and keep anyone from last season’s Miami Dolphins staff that was hired by Mike McDaniel.

This article first appeared on Dolphins Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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