01/19/26 06:57:00
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01/19 18:55 CST Jeff Hafley reaches agreement with Miami Dolphins to become
their coach, AP source says
Jeff Hafley reaches agreement with Miami Dolphins to become their coach, AP
source says
By ALANIS THAMES
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) --- The Miami Dolphins and Jeff Hafley have reached an
agreement to make the former Boston College head coach and Packers defensive
coordinator their coach, a person with knowledge of the decision told The
Associated Press on Monday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because a contract hadn't been
finalized.
Hafley replaces Mike McDaniel, who was fired after going 35-33 in four seasons.
The Dolphins also fired longtime general manager Chris Grier during the season.
Hafley, who spent two seasons in Green Bay, met with the Dolphins for a second
interview earlier Monday before he was offered the job. He will rejoin new GM
Jon-Eric Sullivan in Miami.
The 46-year-old Hafley left his job at Boston College in 2024 to become
defensive coordinator in Green Bay, where he worked with Sullivan for the past
two seasons. Hafley also coached San Francisco's defensive backs from 2016-18
after spending two years as Cleveland's secondary coach.
Sullivan, formerly Green Bay's vice president of player personnel, spent 22
seasons with the Packers before becoming the Dolphins' GM.
Under Hafley, Green Bay's defense ranked in the top 10 of the NFL in yards per
play (5.0), yards per pass play (6.01), goal-to-go percentage (68.9) and
quarterback hits (98).
Packers players, who spoke highly of Hafley, had been preparing for the
possibility he would become a head coach. He also interviewed for Tennessee's
coaching vacancy.
"That (expletive) would suck," safety Javon Bullard said this season. "But, you
know, that's the beauty of this profession. That's the sad part about this
profession but it's also a beautiful thing too. You want everybody to succeed
and level up, because that's the same thing with somebody here going to get a
new contract somewhere else."
The hiring of Hafley continues Dolphins owner Stephen Ross' trend of gambling
on candidates without prior NFL head coaching experience. Ross has not hired a
proven NFL coach since becoming the Dolphins' majority owner in 2009. He
previously took chances on Joe Philbin (2012-2015), Adam Gase (2016-18), Brian
Flores (2019-21) and McDaniel (2022-25).
McDaniel was let go after going 7-10 and missing the playoffs for the second
straight year. That set up an organizational reset that will likely include
finding a new quarterback and moving on from former first-round pick Tua
Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa was benched for the final three games of the 2025 season after
throwing for 2,660 yards with 20 touchdowns but showing stark declines in
accuracy and mobility. He signed a four-year, $212.4 million extension in July
2024 but finished 2025 with 15 interceptions, second most in the NFL and a
career high.
Tagovailoa is guaranteed $54 million for 2026, and the Dolphins would incur
significant hits to the salary cap by releasing him.
The Dolphins also interviewed former Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski, who was
hired as Atlanta's coach this week; Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak;
San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh; Rams defensive coordinator
Chris Shula; and Jacksonville defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, among
others, during their search for a coach.
___
AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed from Tampa.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
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