When the Miami Dolphins hired Jeff Hafley, it marked another bold - and risky - move in a franchise history full of them. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the Dolphins’ coaching carousel over the last two decades, it’s that ambition doesn’t always translate to stability.
Let’s rewind to the mid-2000s, when then-owner Wayne Huizenga made what looked like a power play by luring Nick Saban away from LSU. At the time, Saban was fresh off a BCS National Championship and widely considered one of the brightest minds in college football.
It was a big swing - and for a moment, it looked like it might connect. But after just two seasons and a 15-17 record, Saban bolted back to the college ranks, where he went on to cement himself as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport at Alabama.
That left the Dolphins scrambling, and they turned to Cam Cameron, who had just overseen a top-five scoring offense in San Diego for three straight years. Cameron’s NFL résumé looked promising, even if his head-coaching stint at Indiana (18-37 over five years) raised some red flags.
Still, Miami rolled the dice, picking him over then-Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin - a choice that would age poorly. At Cameron’s introductory press conference, Huizenga famously said, “Could this thing blow up on us?
Maybe.” That quote turned out to be painfully prophetic.
The Dolphins went 1-15 in 2007, and Cameron was out after just one season.
Next up was Tony Sparano, who brought some head-coaching experience from the college ranks - albeit at Division II New Haven. His first year in Miami was a surprising success, as he led the team to the playoffs.
But that early promise faded quickly. By 2011, new owner Stephen Ross had seen enough, firing Sparano before the end of his fourth season.
Reflecting on it years later, Ross didn’t mince words: “I don't think he was the right head coach for the Miami Dolphins,” he told Dan Le Batard in 2014. “I didn't hire him.
We're a much better organization today than then.”
But are they?
That’s the question hanging over the Hafley hire. The Dolphins’ recent history under Ross includes four head coaches - Joe Philbin, Adam Gase, Brian Flores, and Mike McDaniel - none of whom had prior head-coaching experience before taking the reins in Miami.
So it makes sense that the organization would look for someone who’s at least been in the big chair before. Hafley fits that bill.
But whether he’s the right fit is a whole other conversation.
Hafley arrives in Miami after a stint as defensive coordinator in Green Bay. The Packers’ defense performed well enough under his watch, ranking in the top half of the league in both total and scoring defense.
But the wheels came off late in the season after losing star pass-rusher Micah Parsons to a torn ACL in Week 15. Over the final four games - including the playoffs - the Packers surrendered an average of 405.5 yards and 27.5 points per game.
That’s a steep drop-off, and it raises fair questions about Hafley’s ability to adjust when the roster takes a hit.
Then there’s his college track record. Hafley took over at Boston College following a .500 run by Steve Addazio (44-44 over seven seasons), and in four years, he went 22-26 with just one bowl appearance. It wasn’t a disaster, but it certainly didn’t scream “future NFL head coach” either.
So why take the gamble?
Maybe it’s about trajectory. Maybe the Dolphins see something in Hafley’s leadership style, his defensive acumen, or his ability to connect with players.
Maybe they believe his experience in both the college and pro ranks gives him a unique perspective. Or maybe - and this is the part that should make Dolphins fans nervous - history is repeating itself.
We’ve seen this story before: a promising coach with a mixed résumé gets the nod, only for things to unravel quickly. Miami’s track record with college head coaches jumping to the NFL isn’t exactly encouraging. And while Hafley brings experience, it’s not the kind that screams surefire success.
Could this be the hire that finally sticks? Maybe. But if it goes the other way, it’ll be yet another chapter in the Dolphins’ long, frustrating search for the right leader - and a reminder that in the NFL, there’s no such thing as a safe bet.