Miami football reportedly hiring Dolphins legend Jason Taylor

A pair of reports have stated that the Miami football team will hire Dolphins legend, Jason Taylor. Taylor has never coached in college but most recently has been the defensive coordinator at St. Thomas Aquinas. Hurricanes legend Jimmy Johnson and Dolphins selected Taylor in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft.

Taylor retired from the NFL In 2011. From 2016 through 2019 Taylor was a Dolphins preseason radio analyst. In 2020 Taylor permanently joined the Dolphins radio broadcast team while continuing to work at Aquinas. It is expected that Taylor will work for the Miami football program as an off-field analyst.

Taylor would not recruit off-campus. Taylor gives the Miami football program two former NFL defensive linemen on its staff. Head coach Mario Cristobal brought 12 year NFL veteran Joe Salavea with him from Oregon as the Miami DL coach. Taylor was the DL at Aquinas prior to becoming the DC.

Gaby Urrutia of Inside the U reported Aquinas alums have signed National Letters of Intent with Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida, and Louisville during Taylor’s tenure with the Raiders. Taylor has two sons who currently play in college. Isaiah is a defensive back with Arizona and Mason just signed with LSU as a tight end.

Manny Navarro of The Athletic reported that Miami head coach Mario Cristobal and Taylor have been having conversations for a few weeks about him joining the Miami football staff. Cristobal reportedly wanted to hire Taylor as the defensive ends coach. Taylor coaching the Miami pass rushers would be a huge boost.

The Miami pass rush had regressed in recent seasons. Miami finished 37th nationally averaging 2.75 sacks per game. The off-field analyst role Taylor is expected to take is more restrictive. Miami still has one spot open on its staff that presumably will go to a defensive coach. The Hurricanes have yet to hire a special teams coordinator.

That hire could be in tandem with another defensive position coach. Hiring Taylor this week will allow him to join the staff before spring practice begins on Monday. Taylor spent 13 out of his 15 seasons in the NFL in three different stints. Taylor on the staff could help Miami with name recognition in recruiting.