The Miami Dolphins have agreed to appoint Jeff Hafley as their new head coach, as confirmed by a reliable source on Monday. This decision comes after the dismissal of former head coach Mike McDaniel, who posted a 35-33 record over four seasons. Additionally, the Dolphins parted ways with long-serving general manager Chris Grier earlier in the season.
Hafley, who previously served as the head coach at Boston College and the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, had a successful second interview with the Dolphins before being offered the coaching position. He will reunite with newly appointed general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan in Miami.
Having left Boston College in 2024 to join Green Bay as a defensive coordinator, Hafley, 46, brings a wealth of experience, having also coached defensive backs for the San Francisco 49ers and the Cleveland Browns. Sullivan, who previously held the position of vice president of player personnel at Green Bay, brings 22 years of experience with the Packers to his new role as the Dolphins’ general manager.
The hiring of Hafley aligns with Dolphins owner Stephen Ross’ strategy of selecting coaches without prior NFL head coaching experience. Since becoming the majority owner in 2009, Ross has consistently taken chances on candidates like Joe Philbin, Adam Gase, Brian Flores, and Mike McDaniel, all of whom lacked previous NFL head coaching experience.
Following a disappointing 7-10 season and missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year, the Dolphins are expected to undergo significant changes, including possibly seeking a new quarterback to replace Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa, who signed a lucrative contract extension in 2024, struggled in the 2025 season, leading to his benching in the final three games.
Despite Tagovailoa’s challenges, the Dolphins face financial implications if they decide to release him due to the substantial salary cap hits involved. The team explored various coaching options, including Kevin Stefanski, Klint Kubiak, Robert Saleh, Chris Shula, and Anthony Campanile, before finalizing the decision to hire Hafley as their new head coach.