Madison, Surtain joyful to be back again with Dolphins: ‘We’re heading to normally be linked together’

Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain grew alongside one another as NFL cornerbacks that uncovered substantial results taking part in the position with the Miami Dolphins among the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The conclude of their participating in careers branched off somewhere else ahead of they arrived back to South Florida in retirement, coaching different levels from tiny league, to 7-on-7 soccer and large university.

Now, that lethal cornerback blend of some stout defenses from the previous period where by the Dolphins had been persistently competitive is reunited — as coaches. Final week, Madison was named Dolphins cornerbacks mentor and move-activity specialist while Surtain joined coach Mike McDaniel’s 1st staff members as a defensive assistant.

“We’re likely to constantly be linked collectively,” reported Surtain on Wednesday from Dolphins amenities with Really hard Rock Stadium as the backdrop for the staff’s introduction to the media.

The duo mixed for 60 interceptions with the Dolphins. Madison experienced 31 in nine seasons, 3rd-most in group record, and Surtain’s 29 in 7 seasons are tied for fourth. They now join forces once all over again to coach a secondary that has its very own rather-excellent cornerback combo of Xavien Howard and Byron Jones, whilst Surtain will also get to get the job done some with the upstart protection tandem of Jevon Holland and Brandon Jones.

Madison and Surtain ended up both at first likely for the cornerbacks mentor posture, but with Madison investing the previous 3 seasons holding that purpose with the Kansas Town Chiefs, he obtained the task.

Surtain was interviewing for it, and he listened to there had been a few other candidates. While he hadn’t spoken to Madison, he knew he was a single of them. Soon after Madison ended up with the part, Surtain continue to acquired a simply call from Dolphins normal manager Chris Grier.

“His amount popped up,” Surtain recalled, “and I’m like, ‘I know they just hired Sam. Oh, you bought one more situation? Alright, permit me believe about it.’ It took me about two seconds.”

“I was like, ‘Yes! Back again alongside one another once again!’ ” reported Madison of how he reacted when he identified out Surtain would be a part of him. “He’s been coaching a prolonged time. He is familiar with specifically what to do. It may be some little changes that he has to do.”

Whilst Madison coaches cornerbacks and Steve Gregory is the Dolphins’ safeties coach, Surtain will be beneath them on the team, all set to help with something desired for defensive backs. He’ll have a hand in the cornerback, security and nickel positions.

Surtain tends to make the jump from being a substantial college head mentor to an NFL assistant, but he would not have left American Heritage, where he gained three point out titles (2016, 2017, 2020) for just anything.

“It experienced to be the suitable circumstance,” Surtain explained.

Madison was equipped to make the changeover on the 2019 Tremendous Bowl-successful Kansas Town Chiefs. He was at another area higher university powerhouse, St. Thomas Aquinas, as defensive backs coach just before that. In point, between the two of them at their respective faculties in 2017, they coached a few then-superior faculty seniors that went on to enjoy three seasons of higher education and just finished their rookie NFL seasons previous calendar year — Patrick Surtain II (Denver Broncos), Tyson Campbell (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Asante Samuel Jr. (Los Angeles Chargers).

“Hours!” Madison proclaimed about what he acquired was diverse about coaching in the NFL. “But it is gratifying, ideal? To be equipped to see how you take the entire whole system, bottle it all up and then place it all jointly and then provide it.”

But, recognizing Surtain for so lengthy, Madison is assured he’s completely ready to put in the operate that is vital.

“He’s a wealth of understanding. He’s an almanac,” Madison claimed of Surtain. “You can sit right here, inquire him something about keep track of, about baseball, hockey, tennis, he can just throw it appropriate out there. And that is the way he’s been due to the fact 1998, 1st time I met him.

“We were able to make changes in-video game jointly since he sees some things, I’ll be ready to see some items. And now, we’ll be capable to collaborate all those things and get them to our gamers, and with any luck ,, they’ll be equipped to go out there and execute it.”

Surtain is not getting into the NFL coaching ranks with any type of an moi just since he has 3 Pro Bowls and an All-Professional variety, like how Madison has four Pro Bowls and two All-Pros to his identify.

“I’m having my ft damp,” Surtain reported. “This is my to start with time in this point, so I’m not going to arrive in here like, ‘I have to have to do this. I need to have to that.’ I’m coming in here eager to study, keen to help with whichever.”

Surtain could also at some point operate into a circumstance where he’s coaching against his son following so a lot of yrs building him and remaining his head coach at Heritage. The Dolphins never perform the Broncos this year, but they would be slated to host Denver in 2023.

“It’s likely to be exciting,” the elder Surtain explained. “It’s incredible that your dad’s a head mentor and you’re in the NFL. It is heading to be a unique minute. … I can not go to his video games this 12 months, but I’m there in spirit.”

Surtain’s closing season in Miami was 2004, when Madison stuck all around until eventually 2005 right before Surtain went to the Chiefs as a player and Madison concluded off his actively playing job with the New York Giants, the place he gained a Tremendous Bowl in 2007. New vast receivers mentor Wes Welker was also a rookie on the 2004 crew, this means a few assistant coaches performed with each other on that roster in Miami.

McDaniel spoke briefly to reporters just before introducing the coaching personnel and bringing them out on Wednesday. He jokingly alluded to prepared 1-on-1s for Welker against either Madison or Surtain, “barring previous-man harm. Ideally, it’s a fixture for Miami procedures going forward.”

Welker reported on Wednesday he does recall facing them in practice that year when, as a rookie return specialist that wasn’t getting his slot receiver reps still, he would line up against them on scout crew.