The Dolphins are turning to a seasoned hand to lead their special teams unit, hiring Chris Tabor as their new special teams coordinator. This marks the first staff addition under new head coach Jeff Hafley, who’s beginning to shape his vision for the franchise in Miami.
Tabor brings more than three decades of coaching experience to South Florida, including a long résumé in both the college and pro ranks. His NFL journey started back in 2008 with the Chicago Bears, where he served as an assistant special teams coach. Since then, he’s built a reputation as a reliable and respected voice in the third phase of the game.
After his initial stint in Chicago, Tabor took over as the Browns’ special teams coordinator in 2011, staying in that role for several seasons before returning to the Bears under Matt Nagy. From there, he headed to Carolina, where he led the Panthers’ special teams unit and briefly stepped into the interim head coaching role during a turbulent 2023 season following the dismissal of Frank Reich. Tabor went 1-4 during that stretch - not an easy gig, but one that added another layer to his coaching experience.
Most recently, Tabor was with the Buffalo Bills, serving as their special teams coordinator in 2025. Now, he joins a Dolphins team that’s looking to take the next step after a rollercoaster 2025 campaign.
For Hafley, who’s making the leap from the college game to the NFL, bringing in a veteran like Tabor is a smart move. Special teams often get overlooked, but they’re a critical piece of any contender’s puzzle - and Tabor has seen just about everything in that space. Whether it’s dialing up the right coverage schemes, developing young talent, or managing the finer details of game-day execution, Tabor knows the drill.
At 54, Tabor’s coaching arc has taken him from high school sidelines in the early ’90s to some of the league’s biggest stages. Now, he’ll aim to bring that wealth of knowledge to a Dolphins squad looking to tighten up the details and elevate their special teams play in 2026.