The Phinsider
The Miami Dolphins completed three in-person head coaching interviews on Monday, including Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, and Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. After days of speculation and rumors that the Dolphins were looking toward Hafley as their primary candidate for the vacancy, the rumors are turning out to be true as it appears Hafley will be named the team’s head coach.
Multiple media reports, shortly after the team announced the conclusion of the interview with Hafley, indicated that the team and the coach were working out a deal. The move gives the Dolphins their 12th head coach, not including three interim coaches, as they look to overhaul a struggling franchise. The hire reunites Hafley with former Packers Vice President of Player Personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan, who was hired as Miami’s General Manager last week.
The Dolphins announced the completion of the interview with Hafley on Monday evening, with media reports quickly surfacing that the coach and team were working out a contract.
Hafley is set for an interview on Monday, January 19, when allowed under NFL rules.
According to NFL Network, Hafley is the early frontrunner to land the Dolphins’ job as the team begins their second round of interviews. Hafley “blew everyone away” in his virtual interview, according to Tom Pelissero.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Hafley is among the coaches expected to be scheduled for an in-person interview shortly after the NFL allows.
The Dolphins completed an interview with Hafley on January 14.
Hafley is one of the hot names on the coaching carousel this offseason as he looks to land his first NFL head coaching position. The former Boston College head coach has spent the last two years with the Packers as their defensive coordinator. He is on the interview request lists for the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, and Tennessee Titans. It would not be a surprise if the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are just starting their head coach search after Mike Tomlin stepped down on Tuesday, added Hafley as a candidate as well.
Here are the other candidates Miami was considering for the role:
According to an NFL Network report, the Bills’ offensive coordinator will take part in a virtual interview on Sunday, January 18, after the Bills’ Divisional Round playoff game against the Denver Broncos on Saturday.
The Dolphins added Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady to their interview request list on January 14. Brady has also worked as an offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers (2020-2021). A South Florida native, Brady has also had a request from the Baltimore Ravens.
The Dolphins announced the completion of a virtual interview with Campanile on January 16.
On January 14, Campanile, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defensive coordinator, was added to the list of Dolphins interview requests. Campanile was the Dolphins’ linebackers coach from...
