Miami found its next head coach in Green Bay.
The Miami Dolphins have hired Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to replace Mike McDaniel, who was fired on January 8 after the season ended.
The move also ties directly to new general manager Jon Eric Sullivan, another Packers import, as owner Stephen Ross leaned into a tougher, more structured identity for a franchise still chasing its first playoff win since the 2000 season.
Jeff Hafley’s Dolphins hire connects to Green Bay’s blueprint
Hafley, 46, arrives with a defense-first resume and a reputation for aggressive, attacking football. He has spent the last two seasons running the Packers defense and, in 2024, Green Bay took a major leap, finishing among the NFL’s best in total defense while also ranking near the top in scoring defense.
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
That defensive credibility, plus his history coaching defensive backs in the NFL and his existing relationship with Sullivan, helped push him to the front of Miami’s search as reports indicated he “blew everyone away” in interviews.
What Hafley brings after Mike McDaniel’s exit
McDaniel’s tenure ended with Ross calling for “comprehensive change,” and the Hafley hire shows Miami wants more edge and accountability alongside a defensive backbone.
Hafley also brings head coaching experience from Boston College, where he guided the program to bowl eligibility in three of four seasons, which matters for a team looking for a leader who has already run an entire operation.
The Dolphins are closing in on a deal to hire Jeff Hafley as their head coach, sources tell The Insiders.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 19, 2026
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. pic.twitter.com/11kPuoGFC8
Now the pressure shifts fast to staff building, especially the offensive coordinator choice, and whether this Green Bay influenced reset can finally end Miami’s long postseason drought.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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