Dolphins hire Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as new head coach | Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins hired former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as coach Monday, ending a quick search and tasking him with turning around a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game in 25 years.
Hafley replaces Mike McDaniel, who was fired earlier this month after going 35-33 in four seasons. The Dolphins also fired longtime general manager Chris Grier during the season.
“I believe great things lie ahead for the Miami Dolphins with Jeff Hafley leading the way,” owner Stephen Ross said in a statement Monday night. “Jeff is an accomplished coach with a proven track record as a leader and motivator. He demonstrates tenacity and courage, while building trust with his players to get the most out of them.”
Hafley, who spent two seasons in Green Bay, met with the Dolphins for a second interview earlier Monday before being offered the job. He will join new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan in Miami.
Hafley, 46, left his head coaching job at Boston College in 2024 to become defensive coordinator at Green Bay, where he worked with Sullivan the past two seasons. Hafley also coached San Francisco’s defensive backs from 2016-18 after spending two years as Cleveland’s secondary coach.
Sullivan, former Green Bay vice president of player personnel, spent 22 seasons with the Packers before becoming general manager of the Dolphins.
“Jeff is a man of integrity, intelligence and passion that players will root for and play for,” Sullivan said. “He has a vision for the type of team we will be and the ability to motivate them to move in one direction on the path toward that goal. I am excited to continue this journey with him and together we will build a winner that this organization deserves.”
Under Hafley, Green Bay’s defense ranked in the NFL’s top 10 in yards per play (5.0), yards per pass (6.01), field goals remaining percentage (68.9) and quarterback hits (98). He takes over a Dolphins team that
Packers players, who praised Hafley, were preparing for the possibility of him becoming head coach. He also interviewed for the Tennessee coaching job.
“That shit would suck,” Packers safety Javon Bullard said this season. “But, you know, that’s the beauty of this profession. That’s the sad thing about this profession, but it’s also a beautiful thing. You want everyone to succeed and get to the next level, because it’s the same thing if someone here is going to get a new contract somewhere else.”
Hafley’s hiring continues Dolphins owner Stephen Ross’ trend of betting on candidates without prior experience as an NFL head coach. Ross hasn’t hired a proven NFL head coach since becoming majority owner of the Dolphins in 2009. He previously took chances with Joe Philbin (2012-2015), Adam Gase (2016-18), Brian Flores (2019-21) and McDaniel (2022-25).
“I’m excited to see where Jeff takes us,” Ross said, “alongside Jon-Eric Sullivan and our entire football operation as we look to return the Dolphins to sustained success.”
McDaniel was released after going 7-10 and missing the playoffs for the second year in a row. This set up an organizational reset that will likely include finding a new quarterback and replacing former first-round pick Tua Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa was benched for the final three games of the 2025 season after throwing for 2,660 yards with 20 touchdowns, but showing a sharp decline in accuracy and mobility. He signed a four-year extension worth $212.4 million in July 2024, but finished 2025 with 15 interceptions, the second most in the NFL and a career high.
Tagovailoa is guaranteed $54 million for 2026, and the Dolphins would take a significant salary cap hit by releasing him.
The Dolphins also interviewed former Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski, who was hired this week as Atlanta’s coach. Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak; San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh; Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula; and Jacksonville defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, among others, during their search.
