Welcome to Day 10 of the Dolphins’ coaching search. We will post updates here throughout the day:
5 p.m. update: The Dolphins hired Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, an outcome widely expected. He was the only candidate brought in for a second interview, and his hiring was widely reported two minutes after the team announced he had completed his interview.
New GM Jon-Eric Sullivan targeted Hafley from the start. They worked together in Green Bay for the past two seasons and there’s a comfort level there. Miami interviewed 10 candidates, but as the agent of one of the 10 said, this was Hafley’s job from the jump.
3 p.m.: The Dolphins announced they have completed an interview with Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. That interview, Miami’s 10th, means the Dolphins have done in-person interviews with two minority candidates, which is required to comply with the league’s Rooney Rule.
That now clears the way for the Dolphins to make an offer to Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley — if they choose — during his interview with Dolphins ownership later this afternoon.
12:40 p.m.: The Dolphins announced they have completed their interview with Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, meaning nine interviews are now complete.
11:30 a.m. update: The Dolphins are completing their interviews with defensive coordinators Patrick Graham (Raiders) and Kelvin Sheppard (Lions) by early afternoon, meaning they will be in compliance with the Rooney Rule before they meet with Packers DC Jeff Hafley this afternoon at team headquarters. That clears the way for Hafley’s hiring today if the Dolphins decide to make him an offer today.
9:40 a.m.: The Dolphins face a monumentally important decision on Monday: whether to offer the job to Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who is meeting with team officials this afternoon, or hold off to explore the possibility of pursuing Sean McDermott, who was shockingly fired by the Buffalo Bills on Monday.
McDermott, 51, never guided the Josh Allen-led Bills to the Super Bowl, but he leaves Buffalo with an impressive resume nonetheless: a 98-50 record, eight playoff appearances in nine seasons, five AFC East titles and a .662 winning percentage, which ranks 15th all-time and third among active coaches. He told his staff that he intends to continue coaching, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Bills had just one winning season in 12 years before McDermott was hired in 2017. He helped guide a rebuild there, going 9-7 his first season and 6-10 in 2018 (Josh Allen’s rookie season). McDermott and Allen won 10 to 13 games each of the past seven years since.
Hafley, 46, has several factors working in his favor overall (not compared to McDermott): a relationship with new Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan forged over two overlapping seasons in Green Bay and thus a familiarity with the way he likes to do things; the fact that he’s considered a good leader and bright defensive mind; and the fact that he has head coaching experience, albeit at Boston College, where he went 22-26 in four years but also made two bowl appearances.
But McDermott, who was defensive coordinator of the Eagles and Packers before the Bills hired him as head coach, is an established NFL winner. Rushing to hire Hafley without at least exploring McDermott would seem short-sighted.
Owner Stephen Ross and Sullivan are collaborating on the coaching decision, a source said. But ultimately the decision is Ross’ to make.
Over the past two days, before McDermott became available, insider Jordan Schultz reported that hiring Hafley was a “key priority” for Sullivan.
NFL Network reported Saturday that Hafley is the “leading candidate” and “front-runner” for the Dolphins job and that he “blew everyone away” during his virtual interview with the Dolphins last week.
If the Dolphins do not offer the job to Hafley and strike a deal tonight, then Hafley is set to travels to Nashville to interview on Tuesday with the Tennessee Titans, where he is a finalist for that job. SI.com’s Albert Breer reports there is strong mutual interest between Hafley and the Titans, though Hafley clearly also has interest in the Dolphins job.
If Hafley doesn’t strike a deal with the Dolphins or Titans over the next 48 hours, he’s due to fly to Las Vegas to interview for the Raiders’ head coaching job on Wednesday, per ESPN.
Hafley is the only known candidate who is being brought to the Dolphins for a second interview. Miami also is interviewing Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard and Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham on Monday.
The Sheppard and Graham interviews will make Miami compliant with the Rooney Rule; teams must interview two candidates in person to meet the league’s requirements regarding minority candidates.
Two coordinators who interviewed with the Dolphins virtually over the past 10 days — Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula and Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak — cannot interview in person with any teams until next Monday, because their teams are playing in the NFC Championship game.
This story was originally published January 19, 2026 at 9:59 AM.
Barry Jackson
Miami Herald
Barry Jackson has written for the Miami Herald since 1986 and has written the Florida Sports Buzz column since 2002.
