Teams around the league are looking to fill in their coaching staffs, as there has been plenty of movement already this offseason. The Dallas Cowboys are seeking to fill their DC vacancy after parting ways with Matt Eberflus, and it appears they are down to four candidates, but their staff may be getting plucked at by the Miami Dolphins at the same time.
ESPN's Todd Archer reported that Miami requested permission to speak with Dallas assistant special teams coach Carlos Polk for their special teams coordinator position. Archer added there's no word if the Dolphins will speak to QB coach Steve Shimko, as he was Jeff Hafley's offensive coordinator at Boston College. Meaning, this could also be a possibility.
Dolphins Request to Speak with Cowboys Special Teams Coach Carlos Polk
Miami is clearly looking to make a change, as current special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman went on an interview for the same role with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It's clear that Hafley wants to bring in his own guy, and Polk is a name that intrigues him.
Polk spent just the 2025 season in Dallas, where the Cowboys ranked 13th in the NFL in special teams expected points added (EPA) in 2025. They ranked second in the league in kickoff return yards (2,097), with KaVontae Turpin and Brandon Aubrey both being Second-Team All-Pro selections.
Prior to Polk joining the Cowboys, he was with the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has planted his flag at numerous stops across the league and seems to be getting some legitimate interest from the Dolphins.
As Archer noted, Shimko is another name to watch out for. He and Hafley crossed paths at Boston College. While Hafley was the head coach there, Shimko held various roles as tight ends coach, quarterbacks coach, and offensive coordinator. During his time at Chestnut Hill, got more put on his plate during each season at Boston College, which is why he could be a name to watch.
For the past two seasons, Shimko was on Dallas' staff, moving from an offensive assistant to quarterbacks coach. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer clearly likes what he brings to the table, as he got a promotion after just one season. The offense and special teams have been Dallas' strong suit, so the potential of losing coaches from those units isn't ideal.
The Cowboys are still looking to find their new defensive coordinator, but Hafley could poach from the current crop of coaches in Dallas. He's looking to fill out his staff, and some members from the Cowboys organization may be on their way to South Beach if conversations go well. Meaning Dallas could be doing just as much self-recruiting to keep their own coaches in-house as they are in their pursuit of outside options to fill the void at DC.