MIAMI, Jan. 19 (UPI) — The Miami Dolphins will hire former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as their new head coach, a league source told UPI on Monday.
The hiring came the same day the Dolphins conducted their second interview with Hafley.
The Dolphins held previous interviews with Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard and Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, among others.
News of Hafley’s expected hiring came about 10 days after the Dolphins hired former Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan as their general manager. The Dolphins fired former general manager Chris Grier in October and dismissed former head coach Mike McDaniel on Jan. 8.
Hafley, 46, served as Packers defensive coordinator the last two seasons. He previously worked as head coach at Boston College and as a defensive coordinator and/or positional coach for Ohio State, the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Rutgers, Pittsburgh and Albany.
The Packers defense allowed the 12th fewest yards and 11th fewest points in 2025-26. They surrendered the fifth fewest yards and sixth fewest points in 2024-25.
The Dolphins, who went 35-33 in four seasons under McDaniel, including a 7-10 mark in 2025-26, owned a Top 10 defense in 2024 and 2023. They allowed the 11th most yards in 2025.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (C) celebrates with teammates after the Dodgers defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in 11 innings in Game 7 to win the World Series in Toronto on November 1, 2025. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo