When Jeff Hafley took the reins as the new head coach of the Miami Dolphins, he stepped into a high-pressure role with plenty of eyes watching how he’d shape his staff. And in a recent sit-down with Peter Schrager, Hafley shed some light on one of his most important early moves - promoting Bobby Slowik to offensive coordinator.
For Hafley, the decision wasn’t just about scheme. It was about trust, familiarity, and shared football DNA.
“Bobby and I go way back,” Hafley said. “Back in San Francisco, he was actually on the defensive side of the ball.
He’d be in my office constantly, just talking ball.” That kind of curiosity and hunger to learn stuck with Hafley.
And when Hafley left for the defensive coordinator job at Ohio State, Slowik’s path took a turn - one that would ultimately shape his offensive identity.
That’s when Kyle Shanahan moved Slowik over to the offensive side, and things took off from there. “Look at what Bobby did,” Hafley said.
“He climbed the ranks, did such a good job. You could see it coming.”
Fast forward to now, and the stars aligned. Hafley landed in Miami, and Slowik was already in the building.
“I’ve stayed in touch with Bobby throughout,” Hafley explained. “He’s always been on my list, no matter where I ended up.”
The fit couldn’t be better. Slowik doesn’t have to relocate, and Hafley gets a coach he knows and trusts - someone who sees the game through a similar lens.
“Schematically, what he does is exactly what I want to do,” Hafley said. “And beyond the X’s and O’s, he’s just an unbelievable person.
That matters to me. I trust him, I love what he does, and it’s really worked out well for both of us.”
This move says a lot about Hafley’s approach - leaning into relationships, valuing alignment in vision, and prioritizing character as much as football IQ. As the Dolphins look to build on recent momentum, the Hafley-Slowik connection could be one of the keys to unlocking the next level.