Dolphins Contact John Harbaugh; Troy Aikman Assisting In HC Search
JANUARY 12: The Dolphins are not seen as a frontrunner for Harbaugh at this time, although Jackson reports further contact between the parties will take place. Whether or not Miami winds up as a finalist remains to be seen, but the team is among Harbaugh’s many suitors as things stands.
JANUARY 10: The Dolphins considered a trade for then-Ravens head coach John Harbaugh in 2019. No deal came together, though, and Harbaugh remained in Baltimore for the long haul. Seven years later, the Dolphins are in the market for a head coach again. With Harbaugh a free agent after the Ravens fired him this week, he’s back on Miami’s radar. The Dolphins contacted Harbaugh and informed him of their interest, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Dolphins became the seventh team to reach out to Harbaugh since he lost his job on Tuesday, Albert Breer of SI.com reports. That means every club without a head coach (excluding Baltimore, of course) has contacted Harbaugh. The Cardinals, Falcons, Browns, Raiders, Giants and Titans are also in the market.
The Giants, Dolphins, Titans and Falcons look like the most realistic fits for Harbaugh, Breer observes, but interest in the 63-year-old extends beyond clubs with head coach openings. Harbaugh has heard from “at least nine other teams,” Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes.
Playoff participants such as Buffalo and Green Bay have come up as potential landing spots for Harbaugh. The Packers, however, seem likely to work out a contract extension with Matt LaFleur. That would rule out Harbaugh joining the Pack.
Harbaugh, who will begin interviewing next week, hasn’t booked anything with the Dolphins yet, Jackson reports. Considering the Harbaugh family has a “longtime relationship” with Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him wind up as a front-runner for the position. However, a lack of clarity at quarterback could hurt the Dolphins’ cause.
Harbaugh enjoyed remarkable stability under center throughout his 18-year tenure in Baltimore, first with Joe Flacco and then Lamar Jackson. Thanks in large part to an incredible playoff run from Flacco, the Ravens capped off the 2012 season with a Super Bowl victory. The Ravens haven’t won a championship since then, but Jackson has been an elite QB who has twice earned MVP honors since his first full season in 2019.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins and new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan will have to figure out how to proceed with Tua Tagovailoa. While Tagovailoa is open to a fresh start, he’s owed a guaranteed $54MM in 2026. Releasing Tagovailoa would cost the Dolphins a record $99.2 in dead money, though designating him a post-June 1 cut would enable to spread that total over two seasons. Still, it would be a less-than-ideal situation for Harbaugh or anyone else who may replace the ousted Mike McDaniel as the Dolphins’ next sideline leader.
Miami’s head coach hiring will come with input from Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, who will stay on in an advisory role, Jackson relays. The Dolphins first brought the “Monday Night Football” broadcaster in to assist in a GM search that ended with Sullivan’s hiring. The team appreciated Aikman’s “diligence and effort” during the process, per Jackson. The former Cowboy will now have some say over the HC position, though Sullivan and Ross will lead the way.
In the event the Dolphins don’t hire Harbaugh, Jackson identifies Packers coordinators Jeff Hafley (defense) and Adam Stenavich (offense), former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, ex-Packers and Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy and Jaguars D-coordinator Anthony Campanile as names to watch. Sullivan, who spent over two decades in Green Bay, has worked with Hafley, Stenavich and McCarthy. Campanile was Miami’s linebackers coach from 2020-23.
Ravens Request HC Interview With Jesse Minter
The list of Ravens targets for their head coaching vacancy continues to grow. One of the staffers most closely connected to Baltimore has now received a slip. 
Baltimore has requested an interview with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. On Saturday, colleague Mike Garafolo named the Ravens as a team expected to submit a request (video link). As such, today’s update comes as no surprise.
In the wake of John Harbaugh‘s firing, many quickly pointed to Minter as a logical replacement candidate. The latter spent the first four years of his NFL coaching career in Baltimore, serving as a defensive assistant and later the team’s defensive backs coach. Minter had previous DC experience at the college level at that time, and he added further to his NCAA track record following his Ravens stint by leading Vanderbilt and Michigan’s defense.
Minter and Jim Harbaugh won a national championship together in 2023. Afterwards, they each came to the Chargers and helped lead the team to consecutive playoff appearances. Los Angeles has now gone one-and-done twice during that span, but the team’s defense has largely remained its strength since the start of the 2024 campaign. Minter’s unit led the league in scoring defense last season before ranking in the top nine in both yards and points allowed in 2025.
Minter’s strong showings at the college and NFL levels has helped his coaching stock, and he spent much of the past season known to be a top HC candidate for the 2026 hiring cycle. Based on his familiarity with both Harbaugh brothers, though, the 42-year-old has been specifically linked to Baltimore’s vacancy. Interest from other teams already exists, but a return to the Ravens in Minter’s case would represent a strong fit on multiple levels.
Rapoport adds that Baltimore’s previously arranged interview with Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver (another ex-Ravens staffer) will take place today. The team will also spend Monday interviewing former Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
Here is an updated look at Baltimore’s ongoing search:
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interview requested
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): To interview
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/8
- Kliff Kingsbury, former offensive coordinator (Commanders): To interview 1/12
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/9
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interview requested
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/11
- Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interview requested
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass game coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Kevin Stefanski, former head coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/9
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): To interview 1/12
- Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Interviewed 1/8
Raiders, Dolphins Request HC Interview With Jeff Hafley
Jeff Hafley continues to draw notable head coaching interest around the NFL. The Packers‘ defensive coordinator has received another pair of HC interview requests. 
The Raiders and Dolphins have submitted a slip for Hafley, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. That means five of the eight teams with a vacancy have requested an interview in this case. Hafley has already received a request from the Cardinals, Falcons and Titans.
Vegas had not previously been linked to interest on this front, though that had been the case for Miami. Nevertheless, Hafley will be among the busiest candidates in this year’s cycle as he speaks with numerous suitors. Virtual interviews can begin as early as Tuesday. The first in-person summits with interested teams can begin after the divisional round since Green Bay’s season is over.
The nature in which the Packers lost last night represents a notable blemish on Hafley’s resume. Green Bay surrendered 25 points in the fourth quarter as part of the team’s late-game blown lead. That resulted in the Packers’ losing streak extending to five games. Defensive struggles were common during that period, one which took place after Micah Parsons‘ ACL tear.
With Parsons in the lineup, however, Green Bay jumped out to a 9-3-1 start. Hafley’s defense was a key factor in that success. Overall, the Packers finished the season ranked 11th in points allowed despite missing Parsons and others down the stretch. In 2024 – Hafley’s first year with the team – Green Bay ranked No. 6 in scoring defense and fifth in yards allowed. That, coupled with the 46-year-old’s experience as a head coach (at Boston College from 2020-23), has seen him frequently named as one of the top options on the market for this year’s hiring cycle.
The Raiders were among the teams to make a head coaching change on ‘Black Monday’ by dismissing Pete Carroll after just one season in charge. At that point, it appeared as though Mike McDaniel would be safe in Miami. However, he too wound up being fired. Both teams have already begun interviews with some of their HC targets, and they will look to do the same with Hafley.
Dolphins’ GM Hire Could Improve Giants’ Odds Of Landing John Harbaugh; Miami HC Job Not Viewed As Desirable
The Giants have been connected to former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh from the moment Baltimore fired him last week, with initial reports saying New York is “all-in” on the former Super Bowl winner. The Dolphins have also contacted Harbaugh, but in the estimation of the NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (video link), Miami’s GM hire is good news for Big Blue’s pursuit.
The ‘Fins recently named Jon-Eric Sullivan as their new general manager, bypassing Chad Alexander in the process. Interestingly, Alexander – who worked for the Ravens during 11 of Harbaugh’s 18 years with the club – was added to Miami’s GM search just hours before Baltimore relieved Harbaugh of his duties. The Chargers have employed Alexander as their assistant GM since Harbaugh’s brother, Jim, became the Bolts’ head coach in 2024.
Without the Harbaugh connection in place at the top of the Miami front office, Garafolo believes one potential suitor is off the board. Plus, he suggests Harbaugh – who could have his pick of non-Ravens teams in need of a head coach – may not want to join the Dolphins anyway due to their uncertain quarterback situation and difficult salary cap picture, which could necessitate a reset of sorts.
Fox Sports’ Eric D. Williams echoes that sentiment. Citing Tua Tagovailoa’s contract and 2025 performance, cap constraints, and an aging roster, only one of the league sources with whom Williams spoke ranked the Miami post among the top three HC vacancies in the league. The Giants offer a more promising roster, which includes a rookie-contract quarterback in Jaxson Dart who flashed in 2025, and that is one of the reasons why the New York job is generally considered to be a more attractive one.
We heard just yesterday that Harbaugh is watching film on Dart and Tennessee QB Cam Ward and is staying in touch with decision-makers for both the Giants and Titans as well as members of his most recent Baltimore coaching staff. In a separate report for the NFL Network (video link), Garafolo says the Giants are not taking a “Harbaugh-or-bust” approach to their HC search, though he does acknowledge they are hoping they make Harbaugh’s short list and will land an interview with him. While Garafolo does not say so explicitly, the NFL Network included a graphic indicating former Browns HC Kevin Stefanski is one of the team’s other top candidates.
Paul Schwartz of the New York Post says that if the Giants truly want Harbaugh, they may need to step outside of their comfort zone on multiple fronts. In addition to commanding a salary at or near the top of the HC market – although a portion of that will be offset by the roughly $34MM the Ravens are obligated to pay through the end of the 2028 season – Harbaugh ran what one league source called a “big program” that may include additional investments in a larger coaching staff, team facilities, and other aspects of the operation.
Per Schwartz, Harbaugh will also want assurances that he will be able to hire any coordinator or coach he wants without financial constraint. Nonetheless, he is said to be willing to have a conversation with GM Joe Schoen, and considering the appeal of their vacancy, it is not surprising that Schwartz believes the Giants are squarely in the mix for Harbaugh’s services.
Fallout From Mike McDaniel’s Firing; Latest On John Harbaugh
JANUARY 10: As expected, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal tells us that Cleveland has an interview scheduled with McDaniel “for some point next week.” He adds that Harbaugh is also an interview they are trying to schedule, but they’ll need to make the cut.
JANUARY 8: The Dolphins brought an end to the Mike McDaniel era with Thursday’s firing. The move came as a surprise to McDaniel, who previously informed his staff that he’d continue as the Dolphins’ head coach, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com says.
McDaniel was involved in Miami’s search for a general manager, an indication he’d stay, but it didn’t bode well for him when team brass began asking candidates about working with a different head coach.
Although owner Stephen Ross was a McDaniel advocate throughout the coach’s four-year tenure, the tide began turning on Tuesday. McDaniel presented a plan to Ross then, but the latter was “leaning toward making a change” when their meeting ended, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes.
Despite valuing McDaniel’s “intelligence and offensive mind,” Ross didn’t want to continue with the “status quo,” according to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques. That would have meant giving McDaniel another chance after two straight sub-.500 seasons in which the Dolphins combined for a 15-19 record.
McDaniel’s firing came not long after the Ravens moved on from John Harbaugh on Tuesday, though the Dolphins’ decision was unrelated, Jeff Darlington of ESPN reports. While Darlington adds that the Dolphins have not reached out to Harbaugh to gauge his interest in the position, that will change “very soon,” Jackson relays.
There’s a “longtime relationship” between Ross and the Harbaugh family, Jackson notes, and that may aid the team in a potential pursuit of the 63-year-old coach. Indeed, the Dolphins and Giants are among teams Harbaugh will seriously consider for his second head coaching job, per Jackson. Harbaugh is reportedly the Giants’ preferred candidate.
As for McDaniel’s future, his next stop may be in the AFC North, Harbaugh’s former division. The Browns are interested in McDaniel, as reports from Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com and Josina Anderson of The Exhibit indicate. The team has “long admired” McDaniels’ offensive mind, according to Cabot, and there’s familiarity between him and the organization. As McDaniel climbed up the coaching ranks, the Kyle Shanahan disciple spent 2014 in Cleveland as its wide receivers coach.
The Browns have not set up a meeting with McDaniel yet. However, it’s possible an interview will occur next week, according to Cabot. With a total of eight head coaching vacancies across the NFL, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see multiple teams consider McDaniel.
Dolphins Request HC Interview With Rams DC Chris Shula
While Don Shula is arguably the greatest head coach in NFL history, he’s unquestionably the best coach the Dolphins have ever had. During a legendary run with the Dolphins from 1970-1995, Shula led them to an undefeated season and two Super Bowl wins, among many other accomplishments. With 347 career victories, including 19 in the postseason, Shula remains atop the all-time list.
Three decades after he retired, Shula’s grandson has emerged as a candidate to become the Dolphins’ next head coach. The team has requested an interview with Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Shula will coach the Rams against the Panthers in a wild-card round meeting on Saturday. He’ll be eligible to discuss head coaching jobs next week.
The Miami-born Shula, 39, began his coaching career assisting with linebackers at Ball State in 2010. After working with Indiana and John Carroll for the next few years, he jumped to the NFL as the Chargers’ defensive quality control coach in 2015.
Shula left the Chargers after two years to join then-rookie head coach Sean McVay‘s Rams staff as an assistant LBs coach in 2017. He held a handful of other positions – OLBs coach, LBs coach, pass game coordinator, pass rush coordinator and defensive backs coach – before earning a promotion to D-coordinator in 2024.
The Rams ranked 17th in points and 26th in yardage in 2024, their defense’s first post-Aaron Donald campaign, but improved in those categories in 2025. They finished the regular season 10th in scoring and 17th in total defense. The unit placed a much more impressive fifth in takeaways and seventh in sacks. The Rams and Shula will hope that playmaking ability carries into the postseason.
As the Dolphins search for a replacement for the fired Mike McDaniel, they’re not prioritizing one side of the ball, a source told insider Jordan Schultz. The mix of offensive- and defensive-minded candidates who have come up in connection to the job so far is evidence of that:
- Anthony Campanile, defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Rumored candidate
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Rumored candidate
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Contacted
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): To interview 1/10
- Mike McCarthy, former head coach (Cowboys): Rumored candidate
- Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interview requested
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Kevin Stefanski, former head coach (Browns): Rumored candidate
- Adam Stenavich, offensive coordinator (Packers): Rumored candidate
Dolphins To Interview Klint Kubiak, Request Interview With Robert Saleh
Klint Kubiak is officially the most popular head coaching candidate in this year’s hiring cycle.
Six team have now requested an interview with the Seahawks offensive coordinator, the most of any candidate thus far. The latest is from the Dolphins, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, and Kubiak is set to interview with them today.
The Dolphins join the Cardinals, Falcons, Ravens, Raiders, and Titans in expressing interest in the 38-year-old. Other coaches from teams in the wild card round as well as John Harbaugh could catch up with their interviews for next week, but for right now, Kubiak is the hottest name on the market.
It is easy to see why. He came up under his father and longtime offensive guru Gary Kubiak in Denver and in Minnesota; the latter spot also included time with Mike Zimmer until 2021. After returning to Denver for one season, Klint Kubiak was hired by Kyle Shanahan to be the 49ers pass game coordinator in 2023. Like others in that position before him, he quickly earned an offensive coordinator gig. San Francisco finished with fourth-most passing yards in the league in Kubiak’s debut year, even more impressive considering they also had the fewest passing attempts.
The Saints then hired Kubiak as their offensive coordinator in 2024, but after an exciting start, the unit faded down the stretch. When New Orleans brought in Kellen Moore last offseason, Kubiak departed for Seattle to work under Mike Macdonald. He immediately molded the Seahawks’ offense into one of the best in the league. Among his success were quarterback Sam Darnold, who answered questions about his ability to match his 2024 performances; wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the league in receiving; and running backs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, who were one of the league’s best one-two combos.
The Dolphins have gone with offensive coaches for five of their six head coaching hires dating back to 2006, but they could also be looking for a stronger culture-setter as they head for at least a semi-rebuild. Another coach with connections to Shanahan – 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh – could fit that bill. The Dolphins requested an interview with Saleh, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, though that cannot take place until next week.
Saleh’s success as a defensive coordinator is undeniable. Four years in San Francisco got him hired in New York, but his tenure as the Jets head coach did not go according to plan. The team went 20-36, though it is hard to argue that Saleh was their biggest problem. Owner Woody Johnson, general manager Joe Douglas, and quarterback Zach Wilson were just as reponsible, if not more so, for the Jets’ struggles in that time. If the Dolphins share that perception, they may be more willing to give Saleh a second chance in the top job.
Dolphins To Hire Jon-Eric Sullivan As GM
The Dolphins were known to be nearing a hire for their general manager position. The process of finding Chris Grier‘s replacement is now complete.
Miami is hiring Jon-Eric Sullivan to fill the GM role, as first reported by Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Sullivan was among the four finalists for the position and loomed as a strong candidate to get the nod. Now, his attention will turn to playing a key role in the Dolphins’ head coaching search.
This move represents the first time Sullivan will hold a position outside of Green Bay. The former Packers intern spent more than two decades with the franchise, working his way through the ranks of both the scouting and personnel departments. Sullivan was promoted to VP of player personnel in 2022, and he regularly found himself on the radar of teams seeking a new GM during recent hiring cycles. Troy Aikman (brought in as a consultant for this search) was Sullivan’s top supporter, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
Now, 2026 will see Sullivan take charge of an NFL team for the first time. He will become a central figure in Miami’s organizational reset. The team fired head coach Mike McDaniel yesterday in a move which came as a surprise to many. The Dolphins’ intent remained to fill the GM position in short order before focusing on the process of finding McDaniel’s replacement. That search will be one of eight around the league.
Owner Stephen Ross will have the final say on a HC hire, but Sullivan – who interviewed virtually with the Dolphins on Tuesday before taking part in an in-person meeting yesterday – will of course be involved as well. Once a move is finalized on that front, the team’s new group of decision-makers will face a number of important roster questions. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa faces an uncertain future, as does receiver Tyreek Hill.
Having spent his entire career to date in Green Bay, Sullivan has clear ties to a pair of 2026 head coaching candidates: Mike McCarthy and Jeff Hafley. The former spent last season out of coaching while the latter is one of several highly-regarded defensive coordinators set to receive HC interest. The possibility of Miami targeting McCarthy and/or Hafley over the coming days will be worth watching closely.
After Grier’s firing, Champ Kelly was handed interim GM duties. He progressed to the final stage of interviews for the full-time gig, but with an outside hire having been made Kelly may soon depart for a new opportunity elsewhere. Chargers assistant GM Chad Alexander and 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams have also become runners-up for the role, so they will turn their attention elsewhere. At this point, the Falcons represent the only other general manager vacancy in the NFL.
Over the course of Grier’s lengthy tenure in Miami’s front office, the team’s drought for playoff wins extended to 25 years and counting. Ending that league-leading mark (along with a two-year run of losing records) will of course be a critical goal for Miami’s new power structure once it is in place. Sullivan is in position to be a leading figure in that regard for years to come.
Giants Expected To Interview John Harbaugh; Jaxson Dart Appeals To Free Agent HC?
John Harbaugh-Giants noise is not quieting. Although eight HC jobs are now open, the Giants continue to find themselves in the thick of a race that has not technically started yet.
The recently fired head coach is not planning to schedule interviews until Monday, according to the New York Daily News’ Gary Myers, but the Giants are believed to have engaged in at least four conversations with the newly available leader.
[RELATED: Bills, Packers On Radar For Stealth Harbaugh Pursuits?]
They have kept in “close contact” with Harbaugh ahead of an expected interview, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini tweets. This has lasted since minutes after his Ravens firing, when as many as nine teams contacted him. The Giants were then viewed as preparing an aggressive run at the proven winner.
A Harbaugh-Giants meeting is likely to occur midway through next week, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan, who passes along one reason Harbaugh is believed to be interested in the New York job. Jaxson Dart represents a key reason for the Super Bowl-winning HC’s interest, with Raanan noting the 2025 first-round pick is believed to be a “significant” driver for Harbaugh.
The Dolphins are expected to launch a pursuit of Harbaugh, though Myers notes they had yet to contact him as of late Thursday night, but Miami has a major quarterback question in the event the team will move on from Tua Tagovailoa at a historically expensive cost. Other HC-needy teams in this year’s cycle do not look to have a long-term QB on their roster (Browns, Cardinals, Raiders) or employ one with persistent health issues (Falcons). The jury certainly has not reached a verdict on Dart, but he showed promise as a rookie.
Harbaugh, 63, would have a fixer-upper on his hands in New York. The Giants have many holes along their offensive line, potentially needing three to four new starters alongside Andrew Thomas, and their defense ranked 26th in scoring and 28th in yardage despite Abdul Carter‘s arrival and the signings of Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland.
Harbaugh has only worked with GMs groomed by the Ravens — Ozzie Newsome, Eric DeCosta — but Joe Schoen does not (as of now, at least) appear to be a dealbreaker for the in-demand candidate. A coach of Harbaugh’s stature, however, would naturally have some leeway to cut into Schoen’s full-on roster control — power he wielded during the Brian Daboll era — if that is something he seeks during this hotly contested derby.
The Falcons have also come up as an interested team, and mutual interest may exist between the coach and the Browns. The Dolphins made a point to fire Mike McDaniel after Harbaugh became available. Stephen Ross has shown Harbaugh interest in the past — including via trade ahead in the late 2010s, before the team’s Brian Flores hire — but the owner is believed to have fired McDaniel independent of Harbaugh’s status. Still, Miami will likely be in the mix here soon. But the Giants have been the team most closely connected to him thus far.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/9/26
A few more reserve/futures deals trickled in today:
Cleveland Browns
Miami Dolphins
- DT Keith Cooper Jr., T Braeden Daniels, TE Cole Turner, T Carter Warren