CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)—Jeff Rodgers has been promoted to special teams coordinator of the Carolina Panthers, replacing the fired Danny Crossman.

The move was announced on Saturday.

Rodgers served as a special teams and strength and conditioning assistant in his first year on coach John Fox’s staff this past season.

The 32-year-old Rodgers spent the 2008 season as special teams coach at Kansas State. The former North Texas linebacker also worked for the San Francisco 49ers from 2003-07.

He’ll take over a unit that ranked near the bottom of several statistical categories, including punt and kickoff coverage.