Dolphins Hire Jeff Hafley As Head Coach
11:10pm: The Dolphins have signed Hafley to a five-year deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The team has since announced the hire.
“Jeff is a man of integrity, intellect and great passion who players will buy into and play for,” Sullivan said. “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.”
4:05pm: The Dolphins are close to naming a new head coach. They’re nearing an agreement with Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Since their search for Mike McDaniel‘s replacement began over a week ago, the Dolphins interviewed 10 head coaching candidates. Hafley became the first member of the group to set up a second interview, and he emerged as a frontrunner for the job on Saturday. Two days later, Hafley is in position to secure his first NFL head coaching gig.
Hafley, who drew widespread interest across the league during this hiring cycle, had scheduled second meetings with the Raiders and Titans. The Cardinals also wanted to interview him again, per Albert Breer of SI.com.
The 46-year-old Hafley will instead head to Miami, where he has a key connection in rookie general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. Hafley spent the past two seasons in Green Bay, where he worked with Sullivan. The Dolphins are the second NFL organization for Sullivan, who was a Packers employee from 2004-25.
Sullivan was a firsthand witness to Hafley’s impressive work with the Packers, who boasted quality defenses in both seasons under his leadership. The Packers ranked top 10 in points (sixth) and yards (fifth) in 2024. The unit was less successful this season (11th scoring and 12th in total defense), but losing Micah Parsons to a season-ending ACL tear in mid-December proved too much to overcome.
The Packers fizzled out after a 9-3-1 start in losing four straight games to end the regular season. The club then blew a 21-3 halftime lead to the Bears during a 31-27 loss in the wild-card round. Head coach Matt LaFleur will now work to find a replacement for Hafley.
A former Siena wide receiver, Hafley began his coaching career with Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2001. He served as a running backs coach that year, his lone season on the offensive side. Hafley was a college assistant on defensive staffs at Albany, Pittsburgh and Rutgers before jumping to the pros in 2012. He worked with defensive backs for the Buccaneers, Browns and 49ers through 2018, though Hafley went back to college as Ohio State’s co-defensive coordinator and DBs coach the next season.
After a one-year stint with the Buckeyes, Hafley became a head coach for the first time at Boston College. The Eagles went 22-26 and played in two bowl games under Hafley from 2020-23. He then left for the Packers.
In exiting Green Bay for Miami, Hafley will become the Dolphins’ eighth straight first-time NFL head coach. They haven’t selected an experienced HC since Dave Wannstedt landed the role in 2000. The Dolphins’ most recent playoff win came during Wannstedt’s first season at the helm. They’ve gone to the postseason just five times since then, including twice during the McDaniel era.
Although McDaniel guided the Dolphins to playoff berths in each of his first two seasons at the controls, the team sputtered to a 15-19 mark from 2024-25. Owner Stephen Ross made a change after a 7-10 campaign in which McDaniel benched high-priced quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with three weeks left in the season. Seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers finished the year as Miami’s starting QB.
Picking Miami’s next head coach was the first major responsibility for Sullivan, who will cross off that task when Hafley’s agreement becomes official. Once Hafley assembles a staff, the Dolphins’ full attention will turn to their roster.
Whether to go forward with Tagovailoa will rank among the most important offseason decisions for the Dolphins’ new regime. Tagovailoa is open to a fresh start, which he could get under Hafley. Otherwise, cutting Tagovailoa would leave the Dolphins with a $99.2MM dead cap charge. That would likely make it more difficult for Hafley to lead a quick turnaround, but the Dolphins are confident they’ll right the ship under him.
Ravens Interview Anthony Campanile For HC, Set 2nd Meeting With Anthony Weaver
The Ravens’ hiring process to replace head coach John Harbaugh continued apace on Monday.
The team is conducting a first-round interview with Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile on Monday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. They also scheduled a second, in-person meeting with Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver for Tuesday, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Campanile is the 16th candidate for the Ravens’ head coaching job. The team’s interest in the 43-year-old was not previously reported. He only has one year of coordinator experience at the NFL level and one year as co-DC at Boston College, so he is a relatively inexperienced candidate compared to the rest of Baltimore’s list.
The Jaguars did just post their best defensive season since 2018, significantly boosting Campanile’s resume. The unit was good all year, but they turned it on in the second half of the season. During Jacksonville’s eight-game win streak that vaulted them into the AFC South lead, their defense allowed just 18.5 points per game and forced 14 turnovers. The unit could not do enough to slow Josh Allen during the wild card round, but Campanile’s regular-season success has earned him consideration for the Ravens’ head coaching gig, as well as the Dolphins’.
Weaver, who was part of Harbaugh’s staff for three years, was one of the team’s first candidates for their head coaching vacancy. He interviewed with them a week ago and is now set to return to Baltimore to be interviewed by his former colleagues. He is viewed as a strong leader and put up some impressive results during his two years in Miami, especially considering the lack of defensive talent on the Dolphins’ roster. Weaver will fulfill one of the Ravens’ two in-person minority interviews as required by the Rooney Rule as Baltimore moves closer to hiring their next head coach.
Steelers Expected To Conduct Second HC Interview With Anthony Weaver
With an uptick in in-person interviews set to take place over the coming days, plenty of movement could be imminent on the coaching front. The Steelers are among the eight teams in need of a head coach.
Pittsburgh has spoken with a number of candidates already, and that includes Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. A follow-up is now being arranged. Weaver is expected to interview in person with Miami this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
In addition to his first meeting with Pittsburgh, Weaver interviewed with the Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens as part of the initial round of their respective searches. The 45-year-old has never been a head coach at the college or NFL levels, but he did hold the title of associate head coach during the final two seasons of his three-year Ravens tenure. This will mark the first in-person interview for Weaver during the 2026 cycle.
A number of similarities existed with respect to each of the Steelers’ past three HC hires. Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin were each 30-something staffers with a defensive background and a lack of prior head coaching experience when they arrived in Pittsburgh. Replicating the success from all members of that trio is the goal as the Steelers move forward following Tomlin’s resignation. Weaver’s background is on the defensive side of the ball, and he has worked as a D-coordinator on two occasions (Texans in 2020, Dolphins in 2024-25).
Miami’s coaching staff is set to undergo a number of changes once Mike McDaniel‘s replacement is brought in. Weaver’s fate remains uncertain at this time, with the Steelers looking into other HC options as well this week. It will be interesting to see if he emerges as a finalist for the position or if Pittsburgh heads elsewhere in the process of hiring Tomlin’s successor.
Here is an updated look at where things stand for the Steelers:
- Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): To conduct in-person interview
- Marcus Freeman, head coach (Notre Dame): Rumored candidate; staying at Notre Dame
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/17
- Klay Kubiak, offensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed 1/18
- Mike McCarthy, former head coach (Cowboys): To interview
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/17
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass game coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed; second interview expected
Jeff Hafley Emerging As Dolphins’ HC Frontrunner
JANUARY 18: Jackson adds in a follow-up report that it is a real possibility Miami does not allow Hafley to leave the building without a contract in hand following his Monday interview. An agent for another candidate tells Jackson that Hafley is the team’s top choice.
In addition to Graham and Hafley, the ‘Fins will have an in-person meeting with Kelvin Sheppard on Monday. The Graham and Sheppard summmits would satisfy the Rooney Rule and thereby make the Dolphins eligible to hire Hafley.
JANUARY 17, 10:05pm: A representative for one of the other candidates connected to the Dolphins’ vacancy told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald he believes the job is Hafley’s to lose at this point. With at least many of the seven remaining HC vacancies likely to be filled in the coming days, this situation will be worth watching closely.
2:08pm: Coming quick off the heels of news that he is being brought in for the second round of the Dolphins‘ interview process, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has “emerged as a frontrunner” for the head coaching job in Miami. No decisions have been made on either side, but Hafley seems to have the early favor of the Dolphins’ search committee. 
Miami and Hafley are still moving forward with their interview processes, as usual, though. This isn’t John Harbaugh cancelling meetings after one in-person interview with the Giants just yet.
The Dolphins have first-round interviews still on the schedule for this weekend and are in the process of setting up more second-round interviews beyond Hafley. It seems, as they’re wrapping up the first round of interviews with Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady on Sunday and Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham on Monday, Hafley will be kicking off the first of multiple in-person, second interviews. Dianna Russini of The Athletic has noted that they’re attempting to get former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski in for his in-person on Wednesday.
We also aren’t aware if the feelings are mutual for Hafley, though; Miami isn’t the only team to have moved him on to the next stage of the interview process, and according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Hafley is expected to be a finalist everywhere he’s interviewed. Pelissero notes that the Titans, Falcons, Raiders, and Cardinals have also requested second interviews for Hafley, and he’s in the process of completing another initial interview today with the Steelers.
In fact, Hafley is scheduled to come to Miami on Monday, and he already has his visit to Tennessee scheduled for the Tuesday, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. The Dolphins are certainly trying to get out ahead of what appears to be a lot of interest in Hafley by scheduling him early and pronouncing their interest very publicly. We’ll see if that tactic earns them any points with Hafley or if it turns on the pressure in his pursuit.
For the other candidates set to interview with Miami, it’s certainly discouraging, assuming Hafley prefers the Dolphins. It’s hard enough to overcome Hafley’s Green Bay ties to Miami’s new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan but adding in his proclamation from the media as an early frontrunner makes it necessary to hope Hafley prefers to be elsewhere. In fact, strangely, the rumor of Hafley being the frontrunner first was leaked by Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald, whose source was an agent of one of the several other candidates for the job. After seeing the rumor confirmed by Pelissero this afternoon, seekers of the Miami job will be hoping the Dolphins don’t get their guy.
The only certainty anywhere comes out of Green Bay where Mike Garafolo reports the Packers have begun researching defensive coordinator candidates. While it’s still extremely up in the air where Hafley lands, it’s quite certain that he won’t be coming back to Green Bay. As Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post points out, Broncos defensive pass game coordinator/assistant head coach Jim Leonhard once turned down the Packers’ defensive coordinator position under Matt LaFleur thinking he’d be at Wisconsin long-term. Having since moved on from the Badgers, one would think Leonhard’s name would come up in Green Bay relatively soon.
Eagles Request OC Interview With Bobby Slowik
The Eagles have added Dolphins senior passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik to their list of offensive coordinator candidates, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Slowik, 38, arrived in Miami last offseason after a two-year stint as the Texans’ offensive coordinator. He led rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and Houston’s offense to their best finish in years in 2023, but the unit took a clear step back in 2024. However, the team’s continued offensive struggles under Nick Caley this season indicate that Slowik may not have been the primary problem.
The rest of Slowik’s resume is comprised of four years as an offensive assistant on Kyle Shanahan‘s staff in San Francisco, along with this past season in Miami. The 49ers’ passing game largely thrived while Slowik was its architect in 2021 and 2022, though he could not help Mike McDaniel revitalize the Dolphins’ air attack in 2025. If the Eagles are looking to branch out from Nick Sirianni’s coaching tree, Slowik could be an option to infuse some new concepts into Phily’s offense.
Slowik’s current competition for the Eagles’ offensive coordinator job includes several top offensive coaches, including McDaniel, Jim Bob Cooter, Zach Robinson, Kliff Kingsbury, Brian Daboll, and Mike Kafka.
Kevin Stefanski Considered ‘Top Candidate’ For Falcons HC
Head coaching searches are starting to come into focus this weekend. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is considered the “top candidate” for the open Falcons job. He’s set to conduct his second interview with Atlanta today and some sources believe they may attempt to pull the trigger. 
The reason this could be a possibility is because, as Jonathan Jones of NFL on CBS reported this morning, the Falcons are Rooney Rule compliant, so if they truly believe Stefanski is the man for them in his second interview today, they are able to hire him. The Rooney Rule requires NFL teams interviewing new head coaches or general managers to interview at least two minority candidates. The interviews must be in-person to satisfy the Rooney Rule, but Atlanta has publicly disclosed which of its interviews were virtual or in-person. Based on Jones’ report, at least two of their minority candidates must have conducted their first interview in person.
Aside from the second interview that John Harbaugh cancelled in favor of accepting the Giants’ head coaching position, no other candidate has been scheduled for a second interview in Atlanta, except for Stefanski. Stefanski, though, still has plenty of interest from other teams hoping he stays available after today’s meeting. Per Dianna Russini of The Athletic, he’s scheduled to head to Tennessee tomorrow following today’s interview, and the Dolphins and Ravens are both working to bring him in for second, in-person interviews on Wednesday, as well.
An indicator Stefanski may be likely to take Atlanta up on a potential offer was reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who claimed that the 43-year-old coach had done research on the potential aspect of working with current Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Team owner Arthur Blank has reportedly expressed a desire to hold on to Ulbrich, who he believes would immediately become a top DC candidate if put on the free agent market. The Cowboys requested to interview him for their open position a little over a week ago, but Blank denied their request. If Stefanski and Ulbrich seem like a good fit, the Falcons may be well on their way to filling out their staff for the 2026 NFL season.
Lots of eyes will be on reports coming out of Atlanta over the next several hours as it looks like the coaching dominos may be starting to fall. An agreement today would mark the closing of the second head coach opening in this cycle, after the Harbaugh deal was made official earlier today.
Dolphins Lining Up Second HC Interview With Jeff Hafley
Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has emerged as a strong candidate for Miami’s head coaching job. The Dolphins are setting up a second interview with Hafley, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. It’ll be the first in-person meeting between the two sides.
Hafley has an important connection in new Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, a longtime Packers employee. He and Hafley spent the past two years together in Green Bay.
Hafley’s defense has been an above-average group in back-to-back seasons, especially when it ranked top 10 in points (sixth) and yards (fifth) in 2024. While the unit fell to a still-respectable 11th in scoring and 12th in total defense in 2025, losing Micah Parsons to a season-ending ACL tear in mid-December didn’t help Hafley’s cause.
Parsons went down in a loss to the Broncos in Week 15, the beginning of a ruinous skid for the Packers. After starting 9-3-1, they lost four in a row to finish the regular season 9-7-1. The Packers nonetheless clinched a playoff berth and jumped out to a 21-3 halftime lead in the wild-card round against the Bears, but a second-half collapse led to a 31-27 loss.
Although Green Bay’s defense yielded a whopping 25 fourth-quarter points to Chicago, it didn’t affect Hafley’s stock around the league. Along with the Dolphins, Hafley has interviewed with the Cardinals, Falcons, Raiders, Steelers and Titans. The Dolphins are the first team to request a second meeting with him.
If Miami hires him, the 46-year-old Hafley would add to the franchise’s long-running list of first-time NFL head coaches. The Dolphins haven’t selected anyone with prior head coaching experience in the league since Dave Wannstedt took the reins in 2000. Hafley’s lone stint as a head coach came with Boston College from 2020-23, a four-year span in which the Eagles went 22-26 and played in two bowl games.
Wink Martindale, Jim Leonhard, DeMarcus Covington Among Jets’ DC Interviewees
The Jets’ defensive coordinator search has flown under the radar during a frenzied HC carousel, but it has taken shape Friday. The team announced eight candidates for the job.
In addition to interim DC Chris Harris, seven others received interviews. Don Martindale (Michigan), Jim Leonhard (Broncos), Ephraim Banda (Browns), Jim O’Neil (Lions), DeMarcus Covington (Packers), Daronte Jones (Vikings) and Mathieu Araujo (Dolphins) interviewed for the position.
Harris was reported as being likely to interview to keep the job, one he took on after the Steve Wilks firing, and Martindale came up as a candidate as well. The Jets submitted an interview request for Jones. Otherwise, their actions have been pretty quiet on this front.
Entering his rookie season as a head coach, Aaron Glenn tapped the experienced Wilks as his first defensive coordinator. The decision worked out so poorly that Glenn gave Wilks the ax in mid-December. Wilks lost his job the day after a 48-20 blowout loss to the Jaguars in Week 15.
The results didn’t necessarily improve in three games under Harris, who opened 2025 as the team’s defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator. With Harris taking over for Wilks, the Jets surrendered a combined 106 points in losses to the Saints, Patriots and Bills.
Although Buffalo rested most of its key offensive players in Week 18, its Mitchell Trubisky-quarterbacked offense still teed off on the Jets for 470 total yards and 35 points. The Jets didn’t pick off Trubisky in that game, clinching an interception-less season for their defense. They became the first team to achieve that ignominious feat. While Harris is at least receiving consideration for a promotion to the full-time job, it would be a surprise to see the Jets choose him over the rest of the field.
Nobody from this octet carries more experience than the 62-year-old Martindale, most recently a D-coordinator at Michigan over the past two seasons. He has been a DC in the NFL for three teams – the Broncos (2010), the Ravens (2018-21) and the Giants (2022-23). Martindale’s Giants tenure ended after a rift with then-head coach Brian Daboll. The two got into a fiery confrontation before parting ways.
O’Neil and Covington join Martindale as former D-coordinators in the NFL. A defensive assistant in Detroit since 2024, O’Neil handled DC duties in Cleveland from 2014-15 and in San Francisco in 2016. He’s also a former Jets coach, having worked in multiple roles under Rex Ryan from 2009-12. Covington was the Patriots’ DC in 2024 under one-and-done head coach Jerod Mayo. He’s now the Packers’ defensive line coach and run game coordinator.
An NFL safety from 2005-2014, Leonhard spent three seasons as a member of Ryan’s defense in New York. The 43-year-old started his coaching career with Wisconsin in 2016. He worked as the Badgers’ DC from 2017-22.
Leonhard is now in his second season with the Broncos, who hired him as a defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator last year. Sean Payton promoted Leonhard to assistant head coach this season.
With the top-seeded Broncos chasing a championship, Leonhard may be a few weeks away from earning a Super Bowl ring as a key part of their staff. He’s also on the Cowboys’ radar as they search for a new D-coordinator.
Banda and Jones are also in the mix for the Dallas job. Previously a college DC at Miami and Utah State, Banda has been the Browns’ safeties coach since 2023. He fulfilled his interview request with the Cowboys today, too, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.
Jones, LSU’s coordinator in 2021, has coached in the pros with the Dolphins, Bengals and Vikings since 2016. He started his second Vikings stint in 2022 and has worked as a defensive pass game coordinator under DC Brian Flores since 2023. Flores, whose contract has expired, could leave for another job as a head coach or an assistant. If that happens, the Vikings may promote Jones to replace Flores.
Araujo was on the Yale staff before then-Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel hired him as an assistant DBs coach in 2022. He spent the past two seasons as Miami’s cornerbacks coach, but Araujo’s future is uncertain in the wake of McDaniel’s firing. If the Jets don’t hire Araujo and the Dolphins’ next head coach doesn’t retain him, he’ll have to look elsewhere in 2026.
Along with failing to record an INT, the Jets finished the year a lowly 25th in total defense and 31st in scoring. Their next defensive coordinator will have his work cut out in improving the unit, especially after the Jets traded cornerstone lineman Quinnen Williams and cornerback Sauce Gardner before the Nov. 4 deadline. The Jets received a haul of picks in those deals, though, and they’ll enter the offseason with a hefty amount of cap space. Between their draft capital and spending room, Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey will be in position to give the team’s next defensive coordinator more to work with in 2026.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
Chris Shula Arranges Ravens, Steelers, Dolphins HC Interviews
With preparation for the team’s divisional round game reaching its conclusion, a number of Rams staffers will spend Friday conducting initial interviews for head coaching positions. That includes Chris Shula. 
Los Angeles’ defensive coordinator is among the most popular candidates on the coaching market this year. All but one team with a HC vacancy has submitted an interview request in his case, and Shula figures to be busy over the coming days. He will speak with the Ravens, Steelers and Dolphins today, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports.
All three of those teams have cast a wide net in terms of candidates, but it comes as little surprise Shula is a target in each case. The 39-year-old has drawn praise for his work leading the Rams’ defense over the past two years. Prior to replacing Raheem Morris as the team’s DC, Shula held a number of roles in Los Angeles. He also has one year of defensive coordinator experience at the college level (albeit with Division-III program John Carroll).
The grandson of Don Shula, Chris is one of many staffers with a defensive background who has drawn considerable interest in this year’s cycle. That, coupled with his age, would certainly make him a logical fit with Pittsburgh in particular. The Steelers opted for a first-time head coach in their 30s with experience on defense for each of their last three HC hires (Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, Mike Tomlin). Shula is among the top options available who fit that description.
Pittsburgh could still take the route of an offensive coach, with the team having shown interest in candidates from that side of the ball as well. The same is also true of Baltimore; the team’s search for a John Harbaugh replacement includes a wide range of targets. Several ex-head coaches have interviewed already, but less experienced staffers have received a look as well. Shula is no doubt one of the main candidates on the latter front for Baltimore and other teams.
Don Shula spent 26 years of his illustrious head coaching career in Miami, so Chris would face the challenge of filling very large shoes in the event he were to take on HC duties there. The Dolphins have a long-running streak of hiring first-time coaches, and tapping one with a defensive background would mark a notable departure from the Mike McDaniel era. With longtime Packers exec Jon-Eric Sullivan now in place as general manager, many have pointed to Jeff Hafley as a likely Dolphins hire. Miami will of course speak with other candidates, however.
Per NFL rules, each of these interviews must be conducted remotely. The first round of meetings for staffers in Shula’s position (those set to participate in this weekend’s games) must be completed before the end of the divisional round. As such, a full list of his potential destinations will soon emerge.
Dolphins Arrange HC Interviews With Jesse Minter, Robert Saleh
The Dolphins were recently among the teams to request an interview with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as well as 49ers DC Robert Saleh. Both in-demand staffers will speak with Miami. 
Minter and Saleh will conduct interviews with the Dolphins today, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Both will take place virtually, per NFL rules. Three other candidates have already interviewed once with Miami, and another will do so this weekend.
The Dolphins continue to widen their search for one of the eight remaining head coaching vacancies around the league (presuming John Harbaugh‘s Giants deal winds up being finalized as expected). Miami’s most recent process resulted in a highly-regarded Kyle Shanahan staffer taking over (Mike McDaniel). The team could wind up taking a similar route by hiring Saleh, who returned to San Francisco in 2025 following the end of his Jets head coaching tenure.
Saleh’s unit has dealt with a slew of injuries this season but it has helped bring the 49ers to the divisional round of the playoffs. San Francisco’s D-coordinator from 2017-20 during his first stint with the team, Saleh would provide the Dolphins or any other suitor with an experienced presence on the sidelines. The 46-year-old is also one of the top candidates to have served as a head coach at the NFL level.
Minter, meanwhile, has received an interview request from every team seeking a new head coach. That comes as little surprise, but it underscores the competition Miami could face in a potential bidding war for his services. The Dolphins’ opening was recently reported to be seen as less attractive than others around the league. It will be interesting to see if that impacts the choices made by some of the top candidates as they weigh their options.
A defensive coordinator with multiple college teams, Minter has held that role with the Chargers for the past two years. His success in that capacity has landed him firmly in the conversation to become a head coach during the 2026 hiring cycle. Quarterback uncertainty looms over the Dolphins right now, but Minter, 42, would primarily be tasked with overseeing the team’s defense in the event he were to land the HC gig.
Here is an updated look at Miami’s search:
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interview requested
- Anthony Campanile, defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interview requested
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): To interview 1/19
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/14
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Contacted
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike McCarthy, former head coach (Cowboys): Rumored candidate
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): To interview 1/15
- Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator (49ers): To interview 1/15
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Kelvin Sheppard, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
- Kevin Stefanski, former head coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/13
- Adam Stenavich, offensive coordinator (Packers): Rumored candidate