As first reported by Susan Miller Degnan of the Miami Herald, Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor has been hired to coach the edge rushers for the Miami football program. Taylor replaces Rod Wright who left for a job as a defensive assistant with the Houston Texans. Taylor was a Miami analyst in 2022.
Taylor has worked his way up as a coach. The coaching career for Taylor began as the defensive line coach at St. Thomas Aquinas from 2017–2019. Taylor was promoted to defensive coordinator at St. Thomas Aquinas in 2020 and remained in that position in 2021 before being hired as a Miami defensive analyst in 2022.
The hiring of Taylor barring any more departures should complete the Miami football staff less than 48 hours before the start of spring practice. During his time at St. Thomas Aquinas Taylor was able to learn about recruiting as a head coach sending players to eight Power Five programs per Inside the U.
As an assistant coach with Miami, Taylor will be allowed to recruit on the road and far more on-field coaching time with players than he was as an analyst. Multiple DL recruits since Taylor has been on the Miami staff have stated that he has made an impact in their recruitment. Taylor is one of three new Miami defensive coaches.
Former Dolphins DE Jason Taylor has been hired as University of Miami’s DE coach, source told @ActionNetworkHQ. 1st reported by @smillerdegnan. A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Taylor was a defensive analyst for the Hurricanes last season
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) March 2, 2023
Miami previously hired Lance Guidry as defensive coordinator to replace Kevin Steele who left for Alabama and Derek Nicholson as linebackers for Charlie Strong. Strong was hired by Alabama as a defensive analyst this week after announcing he was leaving Alabama last month. Miami has also hired three new offensive coaches.
The Hurricanes hired Shannon Dawson as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Tim Harris Jr. as running backs coach and Kevin Beard earlier this week as wide receivers coach. Taylor brings stature to a Miami coaching staff that went mostly younger after an all-star staff led the Hurricanes to a 5-7 record in 2022.