The Miami Dolphins are zeroing in on Jeff Hafley as their next head coach, and it looks like the deal is close to being finalized. Hafley’s rise has been swift - just two years as the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator, and now he's poised to take over one of the NFL’s most intriguing rosters.
In Green Bay, Hafley wasted no time reshaping a defense that had been underperforming. Under his leadership, the Packers jumped to sixth in scoring defense in 2024 and followed that up with an 11th-place finish in 2025.
That’s a significant turnaround for a unit that struggled under previous coordinator Joe Barry. Hafley’s approach brought more discipline, better situational awareness, and a clear identity to the Packers' defense - all things Miami is hoping he can replicate in South Florida.
For the Packers, this is a tough pill to swallow. Hafley was a stabilizing force on that coaching staff, and his work played a big role in Green Bay making back-to-back playoff appearances.
Sure, both runs ended in the Wild Card round, but Hafley’s defense was one of the reasons they got there in the first place. He earned respect across the league - not just from analysts and insiders, but from fans who saw a defense that finally looked like it belonged in January football.
But Hafley’s departure doesn’t just impact Green Bay - it’s also sending ripple effects through the NFC North. One of the candidates Miami interviewed for the job was Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. With Hafley now expected to land the role, Sheppard is likely staying put in Detroit, at least for now.
That’s a quiet win for the Lions, who are hoping to build on a strong 2025 campaign. Sheppard, a first-time coordinator last season, faced his share of growing pains.
The Lions defense had its ups and downs, but internally, Sheppard remains highly regarded. Head coach Dan Campbell has been vocal about his belief in Sheppard’s growth and leadership.
“I like Shep. Shep has really grown this year,” Campbell said late in the season.
“I think with any first-time coordinator, first-time coach, you go through a lot. You learn along the way.
You make adjustments. You find things that you believe in.
You throw other things to the side that don’t fit you. You find ways to adjust, and it’s just part of the process.
I think Shep’s done a damn good job. There’s always going to be things that you learn from this job, but I like Shep.”
That kind of endorsement says a lot. Campbell’s no stranger to the grind of coaching, and he knows what it looks like when someone is on the right track.
While Sheppard’s name hasn’t surfaced in connection with other head coaching vacancies just yet, the carousel is still spinning. But as of now, Detroit looks set to retain a young coordinator who’s learning fast and earning trust.
So, while the Dolphins get their guy in Hafley - a coach with a clear defensive pedigree and upward momentum - the Lions quietly benefit as well, keeping continuity on a staff that’s helped turn them into one of the NFC’s most compelling teams.