Key Dolphins assistant Danny Crossman was once London Monarchs captain, World Bowl MVP

WARE, England — Thirty years ago, not far from here, at Wembley Stadium in London, Dolphins assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Danny Crossman turned in one of the all-time great championship performances.

Crossman, then captain of the London Monarchs, playing in the first-ever World Bowl of the World League of American Football, earned MVP honors.

Crossman, a safety, recorded three interceptions of Scott Erney of the Barcelona Dragons, spearheading a 21-0 victory in front of 61,000 fans.

"One of them he threw to me," Crossman said Friday, before a Dolphins' practice. "Two of them I earned. One of them was a bunny. The sad thing was I dropped one, so I should have had four."

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The Dolphins play the Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. Crossman has had an accomplished career as a special teams expert.

But Crossman was once a very good player — both for London, as well at Kansas and Pittsburgh. As a Jayhawk, Crossman was a freshman All-America. As a Panther, Crossman was a second-team All Big East cornerback.

There were brief stops in Washington and Detroit of the NFL, but it was in the very first season of the World League, where Crossman really made an impact.

According to Crossman's Pro Set World League of American Football trading card, "he received an automobile as MVP of the World Bowl."

Does Crossman still have some World League memorabilia?

"I do have some stuff," Crossman said. "It's at my mother's house back in Philadelphia. I don't have it with me but I know where it is. It doesn't come up a lot but when it does come up, anytime you mention the word London, to me, that's the first thing I think about, because we won a championship. And I had some individual success."

Crossman said lots of people in England have continued to reach out to him about his Monarchs experience over the years. He's done a few speaking engagements.

"There are always people around that remembered it and loved it," he said. "The NFL did a great job because our home stadium was Wembley Stadium. And obviously here in England if something is happening at Wembley, it's a big deal. It's the national stadium. So that got instant credibility for people to say, 'OK so maybe this is something we want to check out.'"

Crossman was born in Texas and raised in Pennsylvania, so to live in the London area in 1991 and '92 was a unique experience.

Crossman became a fan of the Premier League team Chelsea. His wife is a fan of Arsenal. The food in England took a bit of getting used to, but a few memories of times in the pubs will always stand out.

"I think the biggest thing about it is each little town has its local," Crossman said. "And the pride that each community has in their little local pub, I mean it is an extended family."

Crossman also appreciated the culture.

"The city of London was about 30 minute tube ride, as our training facility was out in the country," he said. "But to have that access to go to London and see shows and go to theatre, really a great experience. If you're not here to participate in a game, you've got to go to the theatre districts you've got to go to the parks. What is out there is amazing if you open some doors and look."

Crossman says the absence of the World League has created some missed opportunities for the development of, in particular, quarterbacks and kickers. 

"You can't replicate those reps," he said. "Look at Jake Delhomme and Kurt Warner (who both played in the WLAF/NFL Europe). I mean, being able to play is the key."

It was when playing for the London team that Crossman actually realized he was interested in coaching special teams, which he began to do in 1993 at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

Coaching staffs in the World League were small. Crossman noted that then-Monarchs running backs coach Hue Jackson was also in charge of some special teams units. Crossman felt he had a grasp of special teams from college, so he volunteered.

Crossman made some suggestions. They went well. And the rest was history.

On Friday, in England, Dolphins coach Brian Flores was praising Crossman's contribution to the team.

"There’s a lot of things that stand out," Flores said. "His leadership, his communication, he’s a great teacher. If you step into his room, you are going to learn something. I think he’s very creative and for me, he’s someone who’s a sounding board and someone I talk to about in-game, game management and obviously he plays a big role in that as well.

"Game management, pulse of the team and things of that nature. His role as assistant head coach is exactly that. Let’s call him my right-hand man, from a coaching standpoint and I’m very appreciative of him and fortunate enough to have him on our staff.”

Crossman noted that the Monarchs of 1991 had a handful of players go on to be fine coaches, such as starting center Doug Marrone. And that team also had some accomplished other coaches such as current Jaguars offensive line coach George Warhop, who was London offensive coordinator. 

One thing Crossman remembers about his time in Europe is how much the local fans appreciate something near and dear to his heart, the kicking game. Fans of the World League and many who will attend Sunday's NFL game cheer for it.

"When toe meets leather that's something that they're much more familiar with," Crossman said. "They understand it well. As opposed to some of the stuff that Americans consider the nuts and bolts of football."

The World League of American Football existed in 1991 and '92 and resumed from 1995-97 after suspension. It relaunched as NFL Europe from 1998-2006.

Crossman cherishes the memories.

"It was a great experience," he said. "Everyone improved greatly and it opened a lot of doors. I think the biggest thing is any time you win a championship, in a team environment, that's something you're always going to remember."