Hafley, 46, spent the past two seasons managing Green Bay’s defense. In his first year as DC, his squad finished sixth in points allowed and fifth in yards allowed. He then entered the 2025 campaign bolstered by the Packers’ trade for All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons, but injuries plagued the Packers defense — including Parsons suffering a torn ACL — which faded down the stretch and finished 11th and 12th in points and yards allowed, respectively.
Nevertheless, he proved to be one of the NFL’s premier defensive minds and attracted widespread interest in the head coaching process.
Hafley, who also coached defensive backs at the NFL level with the Buccaneers, Browns and 49ers from 2012-18, has previously only been a head coach at the college level. He was Boston College’s head coach from 2020-23, leading the Eagles to a record of .500 or better in three of his four seasons.
He comes to a Miami team in dire need of an identity change, with plenty of questions to answer after two consecutive losing seasons followed the Dolphins’ first consecutive playoff berths since the 2000-01 campaigns. The Dolphins in recent years have developed a reputation for a smooth game, with speed over forwards, and it showed in the team’s 24th-ranked defense.
Given Hafley’s specialty, he will be expected to transform the culture into something tougher as the Dolphins look to catch up with the Patriots and Bills, who fired head coach Sean McDermott on Monday, in the AFC East.
But there will also be massive offensive issues to deal with, meaning Hafley’s ultimate selection as offensive coordinator will be one to watch, as will how he and Sullivan approach the quarterback position. Tua Tagovailoa, who signed a hefty contract through 2028, was benched for the team’s last three games and is open to a fresh start elsewhere. Quinn Ewers had some good moments filling in for Tagovailoa, but he’s a seventh-round pick and certainly hasn’t established himself as a future cornerstone, and Zach Wilson’s fate is murky after being bumped up the depth chart.
The decision at QB will be the focal point for Miami. Additionally, Tyreek Hill is not a given to play with the team in 2026 after a horrific knee injury. Outside of quarterback De’Von Achane and Jaylen Waddle, the offensive tackle position would need some retooling — especially after Hill’s future.
These are major concerns that need to be addressed in the future.
For now, however, the Dolphins have a GM and head coach they believe will help them to continued success.