The Miami Dolphins are on the verge of making a bold move to reshape their franchise’s future, zeroing in on Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as their next head coach, according to reports. After a fast-moving day of interviews and behind-the-scenes maneuvering, Miami is working to finalize a deal with Hafley before he has the chance to meet with the Tennessee Titans.
Hafley, 46, has seen his stock rise quickly in coaching circles, and the Dolphins clearly didn’t want to risk losing him. To satisfy the Rooney Rule, Miami scheduled in-person interviews earlier in the day with Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. Once those boxes were checked, Hafley arrived for his own interview-and it didn’t take long for the Dolphins to move into deal-closing mode.
If the deal gets done, Hafley would be stepping into one of the most intriguing head coaching jobs in the NFL. Miami has a talented roster, explosive playmakers on both sides of the ball, and a front office that’s shown it’s not afraid to be aggressive. Hafley’s challenge will be to take that foundation and turn it into sustained postseason success-a bar the Dolphins haven’t consistently reached in recent years.
Hafley’s coaching journey has been a steady climb through both the college and pro ranks. He got his start at WPI in 2011 and quickly moved through stops at Albany, Pittsburgh, and Rutgers before breaking into the NFL with the Buccaneers as an assistant defensive backs coach. From there, he spent time with the Browns and 49ers, building a reputation as a sharp defensive mind with strong player development chops.
His biggest collegiate break came in 2019 when he was named co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State. That one season in Columbus helped launch him into the head coaching role at Boston College, where he led the program from 2020 through 2023, finishing with a 22-26 record. While the win-loss column didn’t always reflect it, Hafley was credited with instilling toughness and discipline in the program.
Green Bay brought him back to the NFL in 2024 to run their defense, and the results were solid. The Packers finished the 2025 season ranked 12th in total yards allowed, 11th in points allowed, 18th against the run, and 11th against the pass. That kind of balance and competitiveness on defense is exactly what the Dolphins are hoping he can replicate in South Florida.
There’s still work to be done before the deal is official, but the Dolphins are clearly all-in on Hafley. If they get their guy, it’ll mark a new chapter for a franchise that’s been chasing consistency-and a return to contender status-for years.