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NFL Rumors: Front-Runner Emerges to Become Next MIA Dolphins Coach
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- NFL Rumors: Front-Runner Emerges to Become Next MIA Dolphins Coach
A Miami Dolphins coaching search is well underway after the organization struck out on landing John Harbaugh in the NFL coaching carousel following the firing of Mike McDaniel. It now appears that a front-runner has emerged in the Dolphins coaching search.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is now viewed as the front-runner to take over in Miami. He would be following new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, whom the Dolphins poached from Green Bay's front office.
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Related: Green Bay Packers Defensive Coordinator Candidates to Replace Jeff Hafley
No decision is official. Miami is bringing Hafley in for a second interview, and the veteran coach is reportedly drawing requests from several other clubs for a second interview. Entering the weekend, though, the expectation is that Hafley will be the Dolphins head coach next season.
The 46-year-old coordinator does have head-coaching experience. After serving as co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State in 2019, he was hired to become the head coach at Boston College ahead of the COVID-shortened season. Inheriting a program that posted a .500 winning percentage under Steve Addazio, Hafley posted just one season with seven victories and had a .458 winning percentage across four seasons.
Related: NFL Coaching Carousel Predictions 2026, including the Miami Dolphins
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In 2024, Hafley oversaw a defense in Green Bay that ranked eighth in yards-per-play average allowed (5.2), fifth in scoring rate (33%) and sixth in points per drive allowed (1.79). This season, Green Bay ranked ninth (5.0), 24th (42.8%) and 23rd (2.26) in those same statistics.
If Hafley does take over in Miami, he will likely take some of his assistants with him from Green Bay to join the Dolphins coaching staff. There is a real possibility that either Packers passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley or defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington will follow Hafley to Miami to become defensive coordinator. He could also take an assistant from Matt LaFleur's side of the ball to serve as his play-caller and offensive coordinator.
While Hafley as the Dolphins coach is not official, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported on Saturday that the Packers have already begun their search for a new defensive coordinator.
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