After Playoff Frustration, Miami Dolphins Hand Rebuild to Jeff Hafley

Miami Dolphins fans have their eyes squarely on new Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley.

His road ahead is far from easy. Alongside new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, Hafley will attempt to turn around a franchise that hasn’t emerged victorious from a single playoff game since 2000 — the longest drought in the NFL. The 46-year-old New Jersey native is now the 12th Dolphins head coach in franchise history.

“I believe great things are ahead for the Miami Dolphins with Jeff Hafley leading the way,” Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said of Hafley’s hiring in a statement. “Jeff is an accomplished coach with a proven track record as a leader and motivator. He has tenacity and grit, while also establishing trust with his players to get the most out of them. I am excited to see where Jeff leads us, alongside Jon-Eric Sullivan and our entire football operation, as we seek to return the Dolphins to sustained success.”

Hafley takes over for Mike McDaniel, who initially had success at the helm of the Dolphins, leading the team to the playoffs in his first two seasons. But after back-to-back losing seasons, Ross cited a need for “comprehensive change” and opted to fire McDaniel after four seasons.

“I love Mike and want to thank him for his hard work, commitment, and the energy he brought to our organization,” Ross said in a statement. “Mike is an incredibly creative football mind whose passion for the game and his players was evident every day. I wish him and his family the best moving forward.”

Hafley served as the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator for the past two seasons. In 2024, his defense ranked fifth in total defense and in years per play, seventh in run defense, sixth in scoring defense, and tied for eighth in sacks. Despite an injury-ridden season, the defense still finished in the top half of the league in total defense, yards allowed per carry, and passing defense.

Before his time in Green Bay, Hafley was the head coach at Boston College for four years. Under his leadership, the team was bowl-eligible in three of the four seasons and, at one point, ranked third nationally in passing defense. Before Boston College, Hafley served as co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Ohio State in 2019.

“I’ve always respected his football,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said of Hafley in 2024. “I love his demeanor. I love his passion for football, his passion for people. I think he is an unbelievable communicator. He’s got a great demeanor about him. He’s well-liked, but he’s demanding at the same time.”

“He is a well-liked guy, just by the way he treats people. I think he treats people the right way.”

Hafley and Sullivan enter the offseason with big questions, chief among them who will be the starting quarterback in 2026. QB1 Tua Tagovailoa was benched and served as the team’s emergency third quarterback for the final three games of the 2025 season after throwing a career-high 15 interceptions in just 14 games. He has since suggested that he is open to a fresh start somewhere else. But Tagovailoa’s injury history, recent performance, and hefty contract could make a breakup difficult.

“I want a winner,” Hafley told NFL Network reporter Cameron Wolfe when asked about the quarterback position. “I want a guy who just he’s got it mentally. He’s got to have it physically, but I want a guy who’s got it up here. I want a guy who’s got it in his heart, and I want a guy who is going to be able to walk into a room, and everyone’s going to say, ‘That’s our quarterback.'”

Starting quarterback aside, the Dolphins must determine whether they’re parting ways with wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who suffered a season-ending dislocated knee in Week 4 last season. Many have speculated that Hill’s release could be on the horizon, given his age and $51 million salary cap hit in 2026. The NFL is investigating domestic violence allegations made against conflict-ridden Tyreek by his estranged wife, Lakeeta Vaccaro, which Hill has denied.

At his introductory press conference in January, Hafley vowed to instill trust, accountability, and toughness into his players to build a winning football team.

“To the city, to the fans — this is a storied organization, one of the best in all sports, and you deserve a winner,” Hafley said. “You guys deserve a winner, and I am going to do everything in my power to bring you guys that.”