A Reset in Miami: Dolphins Turn the Page with Jeff Hafley, QB Competition, and a Coaching Overhaul
2025 was a year the Miami Dolphins would like to forget-and fast. A season that started with playoff aspirations ended in disappointment, upheaval, and a complete reset at the top. General manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel were both shown the door after a campaign marred by inconsistency, underperformance, and a quarterback situation that went from shaky to flat-out uncertain.
At the center of the storm was Tua Tagovailoa, who turned in his most difficult season as a pro. After years of flashes and stretches of elite-level play, the wheels came off in 2025. The struggles were significant enough that with three weeks left in the season, the Dolphins made the call to bench Tua in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers-a seventh-round pick out of Texas who brought a spark to an offense in desperate need of one.
Ewers didn’t just survive his late-season baptism-he impressed. Enough, in fact, to earn a legitimate shot at the starting job heading into 2026.
It’s far from a done deal, but the door is wide open, and the quarterback room in Miami suddenly feels like a battleground. With the team navigating a tight salary cap situation, the idea of rolling with a young, cost-controlled quarterback could be more than just appealing-it might be necessary.
Enter Jeff Hafley: A New Voice, A Defensive Mind
To steer the ship forward, the Dolphins turned to Jeff Hafley, who’s coming off a two-year stint as the defensive coordinator in Green Bay. Hafley’s journey to the top job in Miami wasn’t a straight line.
Injuries derailed his playing career in college, but they also planted a seed. While rehabbing, he started breaking down film with coaches-eventually earning a spot in the press box on game days.
That early exposure to the strategic side of the game helped mold him into the coach he is today: detail-oriented, disciplined, and driven by fundamentals.
And he’s already dropped a telling clue about how he plans to evaluate his new roster.
“Go to the last game of the season,” Hafley said. “And see how hard he’s still playing.”
That mindset says a lot. Hafley’s looking for effort, grit, and players who didn’t quit when the season went sideways. In other words, he’s not just evaluating tape-he’s evaluating character.
Comparing the Numbers: Hafley's Green Bay Defense vs. Miami’s 2025 Unit
Hafley’s defensive resume in Green Bay is a big reason he landed the job. Over the past two seasons, his unit consistently improved in key categories-especially in limiting explosive plays and creating turnovers.
That’s an area where the Dolphins struggled mightily in 2025. The contrast is stark, and it’s clear Hafley was brought in to bring that same defensive identity to South Florida.
Expect a more aggressive, assignment-sound approach on defense. Hafley’s scheme in Green Bay relied on speed, communication, and smart rotations-principles that should translate well to a Dolphins defense with some promising young talent but plenty of room to grow.
Building the Staff: Familiar Faces, Fresh Ideas
Hafley hasn’t wasted time assembling his 2026 coaching staff, and there’s a clear trend emerging: familiarity. Several of Hafley’s hires have ties to his time in Green Bay, including a recent addition known as the “Ball King”-a coach with a reputation for emphasizing turnovers and ball security.
That’s no coincidence. Hafley is building a culture, and he’s bringing in people who share his philosophy.
Among the notable moves: Zach Yenser has been hired as the new offensive line coach, replacing Butch Barry, who left for a position in Los Angeles. Yenser will be tasked with reshaping a unit that struggled to protect the quarterback and establish the run in 2025. His arrival signals a potential shift in offensive line identity-more physical, more consistent, and better suited to support whichever quarterback wins the job.
The Dolphins also brought in a new running backs coach, another piece of the puzzle as the team retools its offensive staff. And in a bit of inter-division intrigue, Miami added a coach with deep knowledge of a division rival, potentially giving them an edge in those all-important AFC East matchups.
Senior Bowl Watch: Dolphins Eyeing Trench Upgrades
With the Senior Bowl underway, Miami’s front office is already deep into the scouting process-and one name has clearly caught their eye: Keylan Rutledge, a guard out of Georgia Tech. If you’ve watched any of the practices, you know who he is.
He’s the mauler, the tone-setter, the guy who finishes plays with authority. The Dolphins have made no secret about wanting to get better in the trenches, and Rutledge fits that mold to a tee.
But it’s not just the offensive line getting attention. Miami scouts are also eyeing a Senior Bowl standout in the secondary-someone who could help address multiple needs without compromising the team’s bigger picture goals.
With the defense undergoing a philosophical shift under Hafley, versatility and football IQ are going to be premium traits. This prospect checks both boxes.
Around the Division: Former Dolphins Assistant Lands in New York
In a bit of AFC East news, Brian Duker, a former Dolphins assistant, has been hired as the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets. It’s a notable move, especially given the familiarity he brings with Miami’s personnel. The chess match between these teams just got a little more interesting.
The Bottom Line
The Dolphins are in full reset mode, but there’s a sense of purpose behind every move. From the quarterback competition to the coaching hires to the scouting focus at the Senior Bowl, this is a franchise trying to redefine itself-tougher, smarter, more disciplined.
Jeff Hafley brings a fresh voice and a defensive pedigree. Quinn Ewers brings intrigue and upside.
And the roster? It’s still very much under construction.
But one thing’s clear: Miami isn’t just rebuilding. They're recalibrating-top to bottom.