The Miami Dolphins are clearly tapping into a familiar defensive blueprint - and that blueprint has Green Bay written all over it. With the hiring of Jeff Hafley as head coach, Miami is leaning heavily into the Packers’ coaching tree, bringing in a trio of Hafley’s trusted lieutenants from his time in Green Bay. If you’re wondering what this defense might look like in 2026, don’t be surprised if it mirrors the one Hafley helped build in Wisconsin.
Let’s start at the top. Hafley, 46, takes over as head coach after two seasons as the Packers’ defensive coordinator.
While this marks his first head coaching gig in the NFL, Hafley isn’t new to leading a program. He spent four seasons at the helm of Boston College, and he’s bringing that leadership style - and his defensive playbook - to South Florida.
Notably, Hafley will handle play-calling duties himself, signaling that this is very much his defense.
One of Hafley’s first moves? Bringing in Sean Duggan as defensive coordinator.
This isn’t just a hire - it’s a continuation of a long-running partnership. Duggan and Hafley have worked side by side at every stop since 2019, starting at Ohio State, then moving together to Boston College, and most recently to Green Bay.
Duggan, just 32, has been on a fast track. After serving as a graduate assistant at Ohio State, he became Boston College’s linebackers coach and eventually co-defensive coordinator.
Hafley brought him to Green Bay as a defensive assistant, then promoted him to linebackers coach in 2025. Now, Duggan steps into his biggest role yet - leading an NFL defense.
He replaces Anthony Weaver, who held the DC job in Miami the past two seasons and was a hot name in this coaching cycle. Weaver landed in Baltimore as the Ravens’ new defensive coordinator, creating the opening for Duggan’s rise.
Joining Duggan in Miami is another familiar face: Ryan Downard, who will take over as the Dolphins’ secondary coach. Downard has deep Green Bay roots, having spent eight seasons with the Packers in a variety of roles.
He started as a defensive quality control coach in 2018, moved up to assistant defensive backs coach, then safeties coach, and finally led the entire defensive backs group over the past three seasons. His experience developing young talent in the secondary should be a welcome addition to a Dolphins team that’s dealt with injuries and inconsistency on the back end.
Also staying in the fold is Joe Barry, who returns to Miami’s staff on a multiyear deal. Barry, 55, has worn a few hats over the past few years.
He was the Packers’ defensive coordinator from 2021 to 2023 before joining the Dolphins as linebackers coach and run game coordinator. While his tenure as DC in Green Bay ended on a sour note, Barry’s familiarity with both Downard and the overall defensive scheme gives Miami a level of continuity as they transition into Hafley’s system.
Barry’s unit will be under the microscope, especially after the Dolphins ranked 26th in rush defense last season. Improving that number is going to be a top priority, and Barry’s return suggests the staff believes he can help turn that around.
What’s clear in all of this is that Hafley is building a staff rooted in trust, continuity, and shared philosophy. By surrounding himself with coaches who know his system inside and out, he’s aiming to hit the ground running. And with Hafley calling plays and a young, hungry defensive staff around him, Miami’s defense could be in for a transformation - one that looks a lot like what we saw in Green Bay, but with a South Florida twist.