Dan Campbell will be an assistant head coach in 2016. Unfortunately, it will not be with the Miami Dolphins. The man who served as the South Florida franchise's interim head coach is taking a job with the New Orleans Saints, becoming their assistant head coach and tight ends coach. Campbell played for the Saints, and head coach Sean Payton, in 2009, though he spent the season on injured reserve.
Campbell started his coaching career in 2010 as an intern with the Dolphins. He was then hired as the team's tight ends coach in 2010, where he continued until being promoted to the interim head coach position this season. Miami went 5-7 under Campbell after the 1-3 start that led to Joe Philbin's firing. The Dolphins hired former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase as their head coach heading into the 2016 season, and Campbell chose to leave Miami rather than return to an assistant role with the club.
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said multiple times he loved Campbell and would have preferred to keep him in the organization in some manner. Several players were vocal in their hope that Campbell would land the full-time job. Campbell reportedly finished second to Gase among the seven coaches Miami interviewed for the position.
Adding the "assistant head coach" title was likely important to Campbell as he looked for his next job. Campbell's career trajectory is clearly still on the way up and adding more responsibility will continue his growth as a coach, one day likely landing him a full-time head coach position.