In the wake of a disappointing end to the 2025 season, the Miami Dolphins are once again charting a new course-this time with Jeff Hafley at the helm. The franchise parted ways with Mike McDaniel and handed the keys to Hafley, a respected defensive mind with a solid reputation and a fresh perspective. But as Hafley begins assembling his coaching staff, the early moves are raising familiar questions in South Florida.
Let’s start with the optics. Hafley has already brought in Ryan Downard and is reportedly leaning toward promoting Sean Duggan to defensive coordinator.
Both are names tied to his past, particularly his time with the Green Bay Packers. That approach-leaning on known quantities from previous stops-isn’t unusual for a first-time head coach.
It’s actually pretty common. But for Dolphins fans who watched a similar story unfold with McDaniel just a few years ago, there’s a sense of déjà vu-and not the good kind.
Back in 2022, McDaniel came in with promise and personality, but his staff-building decisions were a mixed bag. He retained Josh Boyer as defensive coordinator to maintain continuity on that side of the ball-a move that made sense at the time but didn’t pan out.
Boyer was out after one season. McDaniel also brought in Frank Smith as offensive coordinator, but kept play-calling duties for himself.
That structure limited Smith’s impact and raised questions about the offense’s identity.
Fast forward to 2026, and Hafley is making similar moves. He’s expected to call defensive plays himself, just like McDaniel did on offense.
And instead of going outside the building for a fresh offensive mind, he’s promoting Bobby Slowik-last year’s passing game coordinator-to offensive coordinator. On paper, it’s a move that offers continuity.
But in reality, it’s a gamble.
The Dolphins’ offense struggled last season, and while Slowik’s résumé includes a stint as OC in Houston, his role in Miami’s underwhelming passing game doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. It’s not that Slowik lacks potential-he’s respected around the league and has worked under some sharp offensive minds-but the results in 2025 didn’t do him any favors.
And that’s the crux of the concern. First-time head coaches often lean on familiarity when building their staffs.
It’s understandable-they want people they trust, people who speak the same football language. But familiarity doesn’t always translate to success.
Hafley’s limited NFL experience-just two years as a defensive coordinator-means his coaching network isn’t as deep as some of his more seasoned counterparts. That’s not a knock, it’s just the reality of the job.
Meanwhile, other teams are swinging big. The Titans are reportedly eyeing Brian Daboll.
Other high-profile coaches are landing in key roles across the league. In that context, promoting from within-especially after a down year-feels like a conservative move when the moment might call for boldness.
That said, Hafley still has time to get this right. Building a staff is as much about fit and chemistry as it is about résumés.
If Slowik can turn things around offensively and Duggan proves to be a strong presence on defense, these early decisions could look like smart, calculated bets. But if the offense sputters again and the defense doesn’t take a step forward, we could be looking at another round of changes in 2027.
For now, Hafley’s tenure is off to a cautious start. The hires make sense in theory, but Dolphins fans have seen this movie before. The challenge for Hafley is to make sure this version has a different ending.