The Miami Dolphins have found their new head coach, as they are reportedly set to hire former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
The Miami Dolphins have already ushered in their new era of football by hiring former Green Bay Packers VP of player personnel, Jon-Eric Sullivan, as the new general manager.
Now, the team is set to hire former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as the team's new head coach.
Per NFL insider Tom Pelissero:
"The Dolphins are closing in on a deal to hire Jeff Hafley as their head coach, sources tell The Insiders. Hafley, 46, impressed as the Packers’ defensive coordinator the past two seasons after a stint as Boston College HC. Now he reunites with GM Jon-Eric Sullivan in Miami. "
Hafley spent the past two seasons with the Packers, running the defense. Now, he gets a chance to be a head coach at the professional level.
Hafley has over 20 years of experience coaching, beginning back in 2001 as a running backs coach for WPI. He moved to defense in 2002 as a defensive assistant with Albany.
Working his way through the collegiate level, Hafley would join the NFL in 2012 as the assistant defensive backs coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He remained a defensive backs coach for the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers before going back to the collegiate ranks.
Hafley has head coach experience, as he led Boston from 2020 to 2023, posting an overall record of 22-26.
Hafley was then signed by the Packers as defensive coordinator, where he remained until now, landing with the Dolphins.
With the Dolphins bringing on Sullivan, the connection to Hafley was established and real. The new head coach also reportedly impressed owner Stephen Ross and the rest of the selection committee.
Despite the likes of Sean McDermott becoming available, along with the wealth of candidates that were busy with interviews over the past two weeks or so, the Dolphins saw all they needed to regarding Hafley.
Hafley will now work in tandem with Sullivan to help rebuild the Dolphins team into a constant competitor. There is a ton of work to do regarding the roster, but Miami has now put together the pieces.
It will be interesting to see who Hafley brings on to his new coaching staff, as many staff members on the Dolphins staff are drawing interest from other teams.
With the general manager and head coach jobs now taken care of, the Dolphins will look towards hiring a new staff and the upcoming free agency period.