Jeff Hafley
Quick Facts
- Role: Head Coach
- Team: Miami Dolphins (MIA)
- Current holder: Jeff Hafley (defensive-minded; former Packers DC)
- Coaching tree: Defensive — Belichick/Packers branch; see Coaching Trees
Background
Hafley was the Green Bay Packers' defensive coordinator in 2024-25, where he ran a 4-3 front with one of the league's lowest blitz rates (23%) and lowest man-coverage rates (18.6%). He was the head coach at Boston College before that. Hired by Miami to lead a full rebuild after a roster purge — Tyreek Hill released, Jaylen Waddle traded to Denver, Bradley Chubb to Buffalo, Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Jets.
Scheme and Tendencies
Defensively, the Dolphins will swap Anthony Weaver's aggressive blitz-heavy 3-4 (sixth-highest blitz rate in 2025 at 32.9%) for Hafley's zone-heavy 4-3. The scheme rewards fast linebackers and rangy safeties. He'll handle defensive play-calling himself, with Duggan managing the rest.
Recent News
- 2026-10-15 — Projecting NFL Fire Sales for the League's Worst Teams Ahead of the 2026 Trade Deadline (Projecting NFL Fire Sales for the League's Worst Teams Ahead of the 2026 Trade Deadline)
- 2026-03-24 — 2026 NFL Draft: Expectations for seven teams with completely new coaching staffs (2026 NFL Draft: Expectations for seven teams with completely new coaching staffs)
- 2026-08-05 — Top 10 offensive and defensive play-callers entering 2026: Sean McVay, Mike Macdonald... (Top 10 offensive and defensive play-callers entering 2026: Sean McVay, Mike Macdonald...)
- 2026-10-14 — Who should be the NFL's buyers and sellers as the trade deadline approaches? (Who should be the NFL's buyers and sellers as the trade deadline approaches?)
- 2026-10-05 — Which NFL Coaches Are on the Hot Seat and Why More Jobs May Open Than You Expect (Again) (Which NFL Coaches Are on the Hot Seat and Why More Jobs May Open Than You Expect (Again))
- 2026-06-04 — Ranking the NFL’s 32 Backup QBs of 2026: Jameis Winston Cracks the Top Five (Ranking the NFL’s 32 Backup QBs of 2026: Jameis Winston Cracks the Top Five)
- 2026-08-18 — Updated 2026 Preseason Trade Block (Updated 2026 Preseason Trade Block)
- 2026-10-05 — 2026 NFL Midseason Trade Block (2026 NFL Midseason Trade Block)
- 2026-10-09 — Should the Miami Dolphins Trade for Marvin Harrison Jr.? (Should the Miami Dolphins Trade for Marvin Harrison Jr.?)
- 2026-10-08 — NFL trade deadline: 10 candidates who could be on the move and teams that could be... (NFL trade deadline: 10 candidates who could be on the move and teams that could be...)
Sources
- Dolphins reboot with Hafley HC, Slowik OC, Duggan DC for 2026 draft
- Full list of 2026 NFL coordinator grades from CBS Sports