The Miami Dolphins have said goodbye to offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
This is the second season in a row that head coach Brian Flores has fired his offensive coordinator. Flores, who finished his second season as a coach in 2020, fired Chad O’Shea at the end of the 2019 season.
Gailey was tasked with developing fifth overall pick Tua Tagovailoa into a franchise quarterback. Tagovailoa finished his rookie season with 64.1% of his passes for 1,814 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.
In Sunday’s 56-26 defeat to the Buffalo Bills, in which Miami would have qualified for the playoffs with a victory, Tagovailoa threw three interceptions, including a pick-six, while threw for 361 yards and a touchdown.
The Dolphins started the season with veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick as the starter, but Tagovailoa took over in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Rams. Fitzpatrick released Tagovailoa twice during the season, including in Week 16 when he rallied the Dolphins for a wondrous comeback win.
But Fitzpatrick was not available at week 17 after testing positive for COVID-19.
Gailey knew Fitzpatrick after previously coaching him with the Bills and New York Jets. Fitzpatrick finished this season with 68.5% of his passes for 2,091 yards with 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.
Overall, the Dolphins finished the 2020 season in 22nd total offense.