The Miami Dolphins have a new head coach, and it comes at the expense of the Green Bay Packers. A few weeks after Miami moved on from former HC Mike McDaniel — who has since landed as the new offensive coordinator for the Chargers — the Dolphins have hired Packers DC Jeff Hafley to be the new head man for their squad.
Hafley was hired by the Packers in 2024 after he spent four seasons as the head coach at Boston College. He wasn’t fired by Boston College, instead choosing to step down and coach alongside Packers HC Matt LaFleur. Originally, Hafley worked his way up through the college ranks, spending time with Albany, Pitt, and Rutgers before jumping to the NFL with the Buccaneers. He’s also spent time with the Browns and 49ers.
In his two seasons in Green Bay, the Packers defense got much better in a noticeable fashion. After ranking 17th in total defense the two years before Hafley arrived, they ranked fifth and 12th in his two seasons with the Packers. The Dolphins are hoping he brings that level of immediate statistical improvement to their languishing defense.
Dolphins HC Jeff Hafley’s Message to Green Bay Packers HC Matt LaFleur
“I want to thank all the coaches I’ve been around — from WPI, to Boston College, to every NFL team — and I want to thank the players,” Hafley said on Thursday during his introductory press conference. “Because I wouldn’t be here without those players. I’ve learned more from players than I’ve learned from coaches, and I hope they feel that way with me. Because the thing that I got into this for was changing lives, and there [are] so many players who have changed my life, too.”
“I want to thank Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers,” Hafley continued. “The last two years have been two of the best of my life. [LaFleur]’s a great football coach, he’s a great friend, and he’s going to have continued great success.”
“I also want to thank those players there. In two years, we got close. I mean, really close. The love, the connection, the support — it was hard to say goodbye to those guys. But the phone calls and the texts to you guys meant everything to me. I love you, I wish you the best, other than when [the Dolphins] come to Lambeau next year.”
The Green Bay Packers Will Want to Hire a Replacement Who Can Keep Up the Defensive Momentum
Losing All-Pro ED Micah Parsons near the end of the season was a huge blow, but otherwise this Packers defense improved dramatically during Hafley’s time in Green Bay. Now that he’s gone, his replacement will be tasked with continuing to build out the Packers’ rapidly-improving defensive personnel.
LaFleur has quite a bit riding on this hire, too. He was rumored to be on the hot seat this offseason but the Packers signed him to a contract extension. If the defense regresses with Hafley in Miami, however, talk of his job security could heat up again.
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