Dolphins Hire Jeff Hafley as Head Coach

It was announced that the Miami Dolphins have signed Jeff Hafley to a five-year contract, making him the franchise’s 15th head coach. The move comes after the Dolphins decided to move on from Mike McDaniel following four seasons and a 35-33 record. Miami now turns to another head coach without prior NFL head coaching experience as it looks to reset its direction.

Hafley arrives in Miami with an extensive background on the defensive side of the ball. He most recently served as the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, where his defenses were among the more respected units in the league. His time in Green Bay also allowed him to build a working relationship with new Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, who previously held a key personnel role with the Packers.

He’s been around the block

Before returning to the NFL, Hafley was the head coach at Boston College, where he spent four seasons leading the program. While his overall record was mixed (22-26), he earned a reputation for player development and defensive structure. His coaching resume also includes multiple stops as a defensive backs coach at both the college and professional levels, giving him experience working with young players as well as established veterans.

Richard Sherman was one of these veterans who had this to say in a past interview:

“His preparation is some of the best I’ve seen. I’ve had some great [defensive coaches], and he’s right up there with his preparation.”

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The pairing of Hafley and Sullivan signals a clear philosophical shift for the Dolphins. After years of prioritizing offensive innovation and speed, Miami appears to be focusing on building a tougher identity centered on defense, physicality, and improvement in the trenches. Hafley was a finalist for multiple head coaching openings in recent cycles and is viewed around the league as one of the top defensive minds to make the jump to a head coaching role.

Who will be the offensive coordinator

The next major decision will be Hafley’s choice for offensive coordinator. That hire will be critical, especially given the challenges defensive-minded head coaches have faced around the league without strong offensive leadership. The Dolphins experienced similar issues during the Brian Flores era, making this decision one of the most important of Hafley’s early tenure.

As Miami enters another transition period, the hope is that Hafley and Sullivan can bring stability, accountability, and a clear identity to a franchise still searching for sustained success.