Dolphins Tap Rising Star Sean Duggan as Defensive Coordinator
The Miami Dolphins are going young and bold on defense. New head coach Jeff Hafley has brought in Packers linebackers coach Sean Duggan to run the defense, making Duggan the second-youngest defensive coordinator in the league at just 32 years old.
That age gap? Duggan isn’t losing sleep over it. He’s betting on connection, trust, and results.
“Guys just want to be coached,” Duggan said. “If you can help them get better and you care about them, they’re going to listen.”
It’s a simple message, but one that resonates in today’s NFL. Duggan emphasizes building relationships with his players - not just as athletes, but as people.
That player-first mindset has become a key trait of many successful young coaches, and Duggan is leaning into it. His goal is to earn trust by showing he can help players grow, not just diagram blitzes on a whiteboard.
Schematically, Duggan isn’t walking into the building with a rigid playbook. Instead, he’s bringing a flexible, personnel-driven approach - one that adapts to the strengths of the roster and the flow of the game.
“You’ve got to be adaptable at all times,” he said. “You can’t just say, ‘Hey, this is our playbook, this is what we’re going to do.’ You’ve got to play to the players’ strengths, figure out what each guy can do, and put them in a position to go showcase what they can do.”
That kind of flexibility is critical in today’s NFL, where offenses are constantly evolving and trying to create mismatches. Duggan wants his defense to be able to pivot on the fly - to “move and groove with the game,” as he puts it - and take away what the offense is giving.
Ultimately, Duggan’s coaching philosophy comes down to helping players reach their goals - both as individuals and as a team.
“One of the coolest things in coaching is seeing guys accomplish their dream individually and as a team,” he said. “Because when you go in the locker room after a win, there’s nothing better than celebrating with the guys.”
Jets Add Ryan Slowik, Build Out Coaching Staff
In New York, the Jets are continuing to round out their coaching staff with some intriguing additions. The team is hiring Ryan Slowik as their new safeties coach - a move that’s drawing attention around the league. Other teams reportedly see Slowik as a future defensive coordinator, so this could be a high-upside hire for a Jets defense that’s already packed with talent.
The Jets are also bringing on Thomas Merkle as an offensive assistant and Ronald Booker as a defensive assistant. These are the kinds of behind-the-scenes moves that can quietly shape a team’s identity, especially as the Jets look to build continuity and depth across both sides of the ball.
Patriots Veteran Morgan Moses Praises Rookie LT Will Campbell
In New England, Patriots right tackle Morgan Moses had high praise for rookie left tackle Will Campbell - and not just the kind of polite praise you toss out during media availability. Moses was genuinely impressed by what Campbell accomplished in his first NFL season.
“I told him I’ve never seen a rookie come in and play the way he played at left tackle,” Moses said. “The sky’s the limit for him, man.”
Campbell didn’t just survive the season - he thrived, anchoring the left side of the line all the way through a Super Bowl run. That’s not something you see every day, especially from a rookie. Moses pointed out that Campbell still has room to grow, which should be a scary thought for opposing edge rushers.
“He has the opportunity to look back and rest a little bit and get himself back into working out and digest everything that’s happened,” Moses added. “But for a rookie to go out there and play left tackle all the way to the Super Bowl and do an amazing job and still have room to grow - he’s the guy.”
It’s clear the Patriots believe they’ve found a cornerstone in Campbell. And if his rookie campaign is any indication, he’s just getting started.