Surely, the Dolphins would prefer to be in the Patriots’ position right now. However, after seeing what Mike Vrabel has done in his first year with the Patriots, the Dolphins will want to make their coaching hire. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Jeff Hafley “emerged as a favorite for the Dolphins head coaching job.”
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Hafley has never served as a head coach in the NFL, but was head coach at Boston College from 2020 to 2023. Erik Beaston of Bleacher Report predicted that the Dolphins would eventually hire Hafley as their new head coach.
“The Packers defensive coordinator spent time in Tampa Bay, Cleveland and San Francisco before moving on to college, where he joined the staff at Ohio State and eventually became the head coach at Boston College. He returned to the NFL with the Packers in 2024,” Beaston wrote on Sunday. “After four seasons under an offensive-minded head coach like McDaniel, it makes sense that the organization would look to hire a defensive coach in an attempt to return to prominence and championship-winning football in Miami.”
Hafley has been the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator for the past two seasons. After years of being a below-average unit, Hafley helped the Packers return to playing great defense. In his first season as coordinator, the Packers ranked sixth in points allowed and fifth in yards allowed.
Hafley’s unit was playing very well last season, but eventually injuries to the defense’s stars caught up with him. Injuries to Micah Parsons and Devonte Wyatt proved difficult to overcome. Still, the Packers finished in the top half of the league in yards and points allowed.
Hafley has coached under Matt LaFleur and Kyle Shanahan, two successful NFL coaches. He could be a great addition for the Dolphins and make things difficult for the Patriots next season.
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Unlike when the Patriots hired Vrabel, the Dolphins have some question marks at the quarterback position. That could be a big obstacle for Hafley, who is a defensive-minded coach. The Dolphins not only have to finalize their head coaching hire, but they also have to come up with their plan at quarterback.
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