The Miami Dolphins have made a significant move by hiring Jeff Hafley as their new head coach. This decision comes after the team fired Mike McDaniel, who had a record of 35-33 over four seasons. A source familiar with the matter confirmed the agreement to The Associated Press on Monday.
Hafley's Background and Journey to Miami
Jeff Hafley, aged 46, recently served as the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers. He left his position as head coach at Boston College in 2024 to take on this role. Before his time in Green Bay, Hafley gained experience coaching defensive backs for the San Francisco 49ers from 2016 to 2018. He also worked as the secondary coach for the Cleveland Browns for two years.
The Dolphins conducted a second interview with Hafley earlier on Monday before extending the job offer. This hiring marks a reunion with new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. Sullivan spent 22 seasons with the Packers before joining the Dolphins as GM.
Organizational Changes and Quarterback Uncertainty
Mike McDaniel's firing followed a disappointing 7-10 season where the Dolphins missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year. This has triggered a major organizational reset. The team is now likely to seek a new quarterback and move on from Tua Tagovailoa, a former first-round pick.
Tagovailoa faced benching in the final three games of the 2025 season. He threw for 2,660 yards with 20 touchdowns but struggled with accuracy and mobility. Despite signing a lucrative four-year, $212.4 million extension in July 2024, he ended 2025 with 15 interceptions, a career high and second-most in the NFL.
Releasing Tagovailoa would be costly for the Dolphins. He is guaranteed $54 million for 2026, and cutting him would result in significant salary cap hits.
Dolphins' Coaching Search and Owner's Strategy
The Dolphins considered several candidates during their coaching search. They interviewed former Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski, who was recently hired by the Atlanta Falcons. Other interviewees included Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, and Jacksonville defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile.
This hiring continues a trend under Dolphins owner Stephen Ross. Since becoming majority owner in 2009, Ross has not hired a coach with prior NFL head coaching experience. Instead, he has taken chances on candidates like Joe Philbin, Adam Gase, Brian Flores, and Mike McDaniel.
The team also fired longtime general manager Chris Grier during the season, adding to the sweeping changes. With Hafley and Sullivan now in key roles, the Dolphins aim to rebuild and improve their performance in the upcoming seasons.
