Wes Welker joined the Miami Dolphins as wide receivers coach in 2022 and was promoted to wide receivers/pass game specialist in 2024.
The 2024 season marks Welker's 20th year of NFL experience including 12 as a player and eight as a coach, working primarily with the wide receiver position. He's coached or played in four Super Bowls and six conference championships.
In 2023, the Dolphins finished the year leading the NFL in total offense (401.3) for the first time since 1994. Miami also ranked first in passing offense (265.5), second in scoring offense (29.2) and second in yards per play (6.5). Welker's group helped the offense lead the NFL in explosive play metrics, including most plays of 10+ yards (255) and 50+ yards (12).
Under Welker's tutelage, Tyreek Hill had the best season of his historic career. He led the NFL with 1,799 receiving yards, becoming the first player in Dolphins history to do so and breaking his own franchise record set in 2022 (1,710). He became the first player in NFL history to have 1,700+ receiving yards in multiple seasons and his 1,799 were seventh-most in NFL history. He tied his own team record for receptions in a season (119). With his 119 receptions, he became the third player in NFL history to have 110+ receptions in three straight years – following only Antonio Brown and Welker himself. Hill's 13 receiving touchdowns were tied for the league lead. He was one of three unanimous first-team All-Pro selections and was selected to his eighth career Pro Bowl and was named the Sporting News Offensive Player of the Year, as selected by his peers.
Jaylen Waddle totaled 1,014 receiving yards in 2023, becoming the first player in franchise history to record three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons and only the ninth player in NFL history to begin a career with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. For the first time in team history, the Dolphins had a 4,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers in the same season.
In 2022, Welker oversaw a group that had more production than any wide receiver room in team history. Hill broke the franchise record for receptions (119) and receiving yards (1,710), breaking Mark Clayton's yardage mark (1,389) that had stood since 1984. Hill's 1,710 receiving yards were the most in NFL history by a player in his first season with a new team.
Waddle also had a career year in 2022. His 1,356 receiving yards were third in franchise history and seventh in the NFL that season. He nearly doubled his yards after catch, averaging 6.7 YAC per reception in 2022 compared to 3.5 in 2021. Waddle led the league with an 18.1 receiving average. The duo combined for 3,066 receiving yards, which was the third-most in a season by a pair of teammates in NFL history.
Miami made huge offensive strides in Welker's first season. The team won nine games, advancing to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The Dolphins had a top 10 offense (sixth, 364.5 yards per game), something they had not done since 1995. Miami was fourth in passing (265.4), second in yards per play (6.1) and second in net yards per pass attempt (7.7).
Welker spent three seasons (2019-21) as wide receivers coach for San Francisco, helping the 49ers reach two conference championship games and make an appearance in Super Bowl LIV. He worked closely with wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who arrived in San Francisco the same year Welker did as a second-round pick (36th overall) in 2019, and developed into the NFL's fifth-leading receiver in 2021 (1,405 yards).
In 2021, Welker coached two 800-yard receivers. Samuel's 1,405 receiving yards were ninth in franchise history and the most by any player other than wide receiver Jerry Rice and wide receiver Terrell Owens. Samuel also rushed for 365 yards and his 1,770 scrimmage yards were the most by a 49er since running back Frank Gore had 2,180 in 2006. He earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk totaled 826 receiving yards and five touchdowns in his second NFL season. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings hauled in five touchdown passes as a rookie despite being a seventh-round pick (217th overall) that year. San Francisco won 10 games and advanced to the NFC Championship game.
Injuries plagued the 49ers offense in 2020 but Welker helped Aiyuk record 60 receptions for 748 yards (12.5 avg.) and five touchdowns in his rookie season despite playing just 12 games. His 748 yards were sixth-most by an NFL rookie that season and the most by any rookie that didn't play in all 16 games. It was also the third-most by a rookie in 49ers history. Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne totaled a then career-high 49 receptions and 667 receiving yards (13.6 avg.).
In Welker's first season as a position coach in 2019, he helped the team win 13 games, win the NFC and advance to Super Bowl LIV. Samuel led the team's wide receivers with 57 receptions for 802 yards (14.1 avg.) as a rookie. His 802 receiving yards were fourth-most by a rookie in the league that season and second-most all-time by a 49ers rookie behind Rice's 927 yards in 1985. Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders was acquired midseason in a trade with Denver and finished third on the team in both receptions (36) and receiving yards (502).
Welker's first coaching job came as an offensive/special teams assistant with Houston from 2017-18.
In 2018, the Texans finished the season with the fifth-most punt return yards (327) in the league and were seventh in kickoff return average (24.4). Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins had the best year of his career, totaling 115 receptions for 1,572 yards (13.7 avg.) and 11 touchdowns. His 1,572 receiving yards were second in the NFL that season. He earned first-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection.
In 2017, Welker helped Hopkins and wide receiver Will Fuller V combine for 20 receiving touchdowns, which were the most by any pair of teammates in the NFL that year and most by any pair of Texans teammates in franchise history. Hopkins earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors after totaling 96 receptions for 1,378 yards (14.4 avg.) and a franchise-record 13 touchdowns.
Welker played 12 NFL seasons as a wide receiver and returner with San Diego (2004), Miami (2004-06), New England (2007-12), Denver (2013-14) and St. Louis (2015). He appeared in 175 games with 102 starts, totaling 903 career receptions for 9,924 yards (11.0 avg.) and 50 touchdowns. On special teams, he had 183 career kickoff returns for 4,138 yards (22.6 avg.) and one touchdown and 264 career punt returns for 2,584 yards (9.8 avg.).
As a player, Welker earned two first-team All-Pro honors (2009, 2011), two second-team All-Pro honors (2007-08) and five Pro Bowl selections (2008-12). He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie team in 2004 and appeared in three Super Bowls (XLII, XLVI and XLVIII). He led the NFL in receptions three times (2007, 2009 and 2011) and holds the record for most receptions by an undrafted wide receiver in NFL history (903).
During Welker's three seasons (2004-06) in Miami, he appeared in 46 games with three starts, totaling 96 receptions for 1,121 yards (11.7 avg.) and one touchdown. He also totaled 127 punt returns for 1,232 yards (9.7 avg.) and 166 kickoff returns for 3,756 yards (22.6 avg.) and one touchdown. Welker still holds Dolphins career records for punt returns (tied with Jake Scott and O.J. McDuffie at 127), kickoff returns (166) and kickoff return yards (3,756). He also holds team single-season marks for punt returns (43 in both 2004 and 2005) and punt return yards (464 in 2004).
Welker attended Texas Tech, where he recorded 259 career receptions for 3,019 yards (11.7 avg.) and 21 touchdowns in addition to 79 carries for 456 yards (5.8 avg.) and two touchdowns. He tied an NCAA record with eight punt return touchdowns and won the Mosi Tatupu Award in 2003 for the best special teams player in college football. Sports Illustrated named him to the publication's all-decade team as a punt returner. Welker will be inducted into the school's Ring of Honor in 2024.
An Oklahoma City native, Welker and his wife, Anna, have three children, Carter, Caroline and Jack.
