The Miami Dolphins announced today that they have named Jeff Hafley the 12th head coach in franchise history.
"I believe great things are ahead for the Miami Dolphins with Jeff Hafley leading the way," said Dolphins Chairman and Owner Stephen M. Ross. "Jeff is an accomplished coach with a proven track record as a leader and motivator. He has tenacity and grit, while at the same time establishing trust with his players in order 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."
"Jeff is a man of integrity, intellect and great passion who players will buy into and play for," said Dolphins General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. "He has a vision for the kind of team we will be and the ability to motivate them to move in one direction on the path towards that goal. I'm thrilled to go on this journey with him and together we will build a winner that this organization deserves."
Hafley has 25 years of coaching experience, including nine in the NFL and four as a head coach at the collegiate level. He most recently served as the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, a role he held for two seasons (2024-25). During his time with Green Bay, the Packers posted a 20-13-1 regular season record and made consecutive playoff appearances, in addition to producing a combined three All-Pro selections and three Pro Bowl nods on the defensive side of the ball.
In his first season as defensive coordinator in 2024, Hafley led a Packers defense that ranked fifth in total defense (314.5 yards per game) and in yards allowed per play (5.2), seventh in run defense (99.4 yards per game), sixth in scoring defense (19.9 points per game) and fourth in takeaways (31), while finishing tied for eighth in sacks (45). The unit improved by significant margins from 2023, when it ranked 17th in total defense (335.1 yards per game), 20th in yards allowed per play (5.4), 28th in run defense (128.3 yards per game) and 23rd in takeaways (18).
The Packers were one of only two teams in the league, along with Minnesota, to record more than 45 sacks and 30-plus takeaways in 2024. They were also one of just three teams, joining Baltimore and Denver, to allow fewer than 100 rushing yards per game and fewer than 4.0 yards per carry, marking only the second time since 2000 that Green Bay achieved both marks in the same season. Multiple Green Bay defenders earned Pro Bowl nods in 2024, including defensive lineman Rashan Gary and safety Xavier McKinney, with McKinney also earning first-team AP All-Pro honors. Meanwhile, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and safety Evan Williams were both named to the PFWA All‑Rookie team that year.
Despite several injuries in 2025, Green Bay's defense finished in the top half of the league in total defense (311.8 yards per game), yards allowed per play (5.0), yards allowed per carry (4.2), passing defense (194.1 yards per game) and third down defense (39.4%). Defensive lineman Micah Parsons, who the Packers acquired via a trade with Dallas, ranked seventh in the NFL with 12.5 sacks and was named to the 2026 Pro Bowl despite suffering a season-ending injury. Parsons and McKinney were both named AP All-Pros in 2025, with Parsons earning first-team honors while McKinney was selected to the second team.
Prior to Green Bay, Hafley served as head coach at Boston College (2020-23), leading the Eagles to bowl eligibility in three of four seasons, including a victory over No. 17 SMU in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl to cap off the 2023 campaign. During his tenure, Boston College produced 35 All-ACC selections and had four players selected in the NFL Draft, including the program's first consecutive first-round picks since 2011–12 with wide receiver Zay Flowers (No. 22 overall in 2023) and guard Zion Johnson (No. 17 overall in 2022).
In 2022, the Eagles secured their first win over an AP-ranked opponent since 2014, when they upset No. 16 North Carolina State on the road. Flowers delivered one of the most productive seasons in Boston College history, setting the single‑season program record for receiving touchdowns (12) and matching the school mark for receptions (78). His standout performance earned him first‑team All‑ACC honors and third‑team AP All-America recognition. He concluded his career as BC's all‑time leader in receiving yards (3,056) and receiving touchdowns (29).
In 2021, Hafley guided the Eagles to rank third nationally in passing defense, allowing just 173.5 yards per game and holding opponents under 300 net passing yards in 11 of 12 games. Boston College also posted top‑30 national marks in total defense (No. 28, 344.3 yards per game), opponent red‑zone scoring percentage (No. 30, 76.9), first downs allowed (t‑No. 13, 222) and third‑down defense (No. 25, 34.5%). The Eagles also led the ACC in both fewest penalties (65) and fewest penalty yards (596).
In his first season at the helm in 2020, Hafley directed the Eagles to a 6–5 record, the most wins by any first‑year head coach in college football that year. Under his direction, Boston College climbed 52 spots in the national total defense rankings, rising to No. 73 after finishing No. 125 in 2019. The Eagles allowed nearly 62 fewer yards per game than the previous season (416.8 in 2020, 478.7 in 2019), marking one of the nation's most significant defensive turnarounds.
Prior to leading the program at Boston College, Hafley served as co‑defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Ohio State in 2019, helping lead the Buckeyes to a Big Ten championship title and a berth in the College Football Playoff. That season, Ohio State's defense ranked No. 1 nationally in yards allowed per play (4.13), total defense (259.7 yards per game), passing defense (156.0 yards per game) and sacks (54). A finalist for the Broyles Award and the 247Sports Defensive Coordinator of the Year, Hafley also helped the Buckeyes finish No. 4 in scoring defense (13.7 points per game), No. 4 in red zone defense (41.4 percent) and No. 9 in rushing defense (103.7 yards per game).
Before Ohio State, Hafley spent seven seasons in the NFL. He spent three seasons (2016–18) as San Francisco's defensive backs coach. In 2018, the 49ers finished 11th overall in passing defense (233.3 yards per game) and held opponents to 250 passing yards or fewer in 11 of 16 contests. In his first season with the team in 2016, he helped elevate San Francisco's secondary to a No. 14 ranking in pass defense (240.5 yards per game), a 13‑spot improvement from the previous year.
Prior to the 49ers, Hafley spent two seasons (2014–15) as the secondary coach for the Cleveland Browns, helping the unit produce one of the NFL's most efficient pass defenses in 2014. That year, Cleveland led the league in opponent passer rating (74.1) and opponent completion percentage (57.1), while finishing second in interceptions (21). Cornerback Joe Haden, safety Donte Whitner and safety Tashaun Gipson all earned Pro Bowl honors, marking the first time in team history that three defensive backs were selected in the same season. Despite missing the final five games of the season, Gipson finished second in the NFL with six interceptions.
Hafley's NFL coaching career began with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he served as the assistant defensive backs coach in 2012 and the secondary/safeties coach in 2013. Over those two seasons, Tampa Bay ranked fourth in the league in interceptions (39) and third in interception return yards (757). In 2013, the Buccaneers tied for third in the NFL in takeaways (31) and interceptions (21). Safety Ronde Barber finished second in the NFL in interception return yards (160) in 2012, while rookie safety Mark Barron ranked second among first‑year defensive backs in both tackles and passes defensed.
In his first stint at the collegiate level, Hafley spent the 2011 season coaching the secondary at Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights produced the No. 9 pass defense (171.8 yards allowed per game) and ranked eighth in scoring defense (18.3 points per game). He mentored cornerback Duron Harmon and safety Logan Ryan, both of which were later selected in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.
Prior to Rutgers, Hafley coached at the University of Pittsburgh from 2006 to 2010, working as a defensive assistant and cornerbacks coach (2006-07) and as the secondary coach (2008-10). He mentored future NFL All‑Pro Darrelle Revis, a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award in 2006 before he was selected No. 14 overall in the 2007 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.
Before his time at Pitt, he spent four seasons at Albany, coaching the defensive backs (2004-05) and the defensive tackles (2002-03). During that time, he helped develop Kurt Campbell, who became the first player in program history to be selected in the NFL Draft when he was chosen by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round in 2005. Hafley began his coaching career at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2001, working with the running backs.
Hafley played wide receiver from 1997 to 2000 at Siena College, where he was a four-year letterwinner. He and his wife, Gina, have two daughters, Hope and Leah.
