Miami Dolphins set to appoint new head coach: Who is Jeff Hafley?
Reports suggest that the Dolphins are close to naming the successor to former HC Mike McDaniel.
Of the ten coaching changes made in this NFL offseason, few were as unsurprising as the Miami Dolphins’ decision to part ways with former head coach Mike McDaniel.
McDaniel’s four-year spell in charge of the Dolphins ended earlier this month after failing to make the playoffs for a second straight season. The Dolphins are planning a major reset and appear to have landed on the coach that they hope will help usher in a new era.
On Monday ESPN reported that Jeff Hafley is set to be named the new Miami head coach following a successful second interview with the team on Monday.
ESPN Sources: Dolphins are hiring former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as their head coach. Hafley completed his second interview with the team today and will be their new head coach. pic.twitter.com/SCXhKvQsO7
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 19, 2026
Hafley is currently the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers. The 46-year-old coach worked alongside new Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan during their time together in Green Bay.
Dolphins back another first-time head coach
Hafley never played football professionally but spent 11 years on the coaching teams for various collegiate teams before being named the assistant defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012.
He went on to serve as defensive backs coach for the Cleveland Browns and the San Francisco 49ers, before returning to the college game with Ohio State. Hafley spent four years as head coach of Boston College and was then named Packers defensive coordinator ahead of the 2024 season.
Despite his extensive career in coaching, Hafley has no experience as an NFL head coach. Incredibly, if he were to be given the job, Hafley would be the eighth straight Dolphins head coach to be given the job with no previous NFL head coaching experience.
The last head coach with prior experience to be given the Dolphins job was Dave Wannstedt, who took charge in 2000. His first season was also the last time the Dolphins won a postseason game. Hafley will hope that he is the man to break that long wait in 2026.
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