After McDaniel’s firing, John Harbaugh was widely linked as the top target, with Barry Jackson noting him as Miami’s main pursuit. One of the four GM finalists, Chad Alexander, had worked with Harbaugh in Baltimore, fueling speculation. The Dolphins eventually chose Jon-Eric Sullivan as their GM, with Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman brought in to consult, reportedly Sullivan’s strongest advocate.
However, Harbaugh’s pursuit never materialized. The Dolphins reportedly reached out to him, but no interview was scheduled, and Harbaugh narrowed his options to the Falcons, Titans, and Giants. After meeting the Giants, Harbaugh was officially announced as their head coach, leaving open questions about whether Miami’s interest waned after Sullivan’s hiring or if Harbaugh himself wasn’t interested. There were also whispers that Miami had explored trade options for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.
With Harbaugh and Tomlin off the table, a frontrunner emerged: Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who is viewed as Miami’s target and has familiarity with GM Sullivan from the Packers’ 2024–2025 period. Hafley’s candidacy faces the hurdle that the Dolphins’ job is not widely viewed as a top destination, though there is substantial interest in Hafley across the league. Hafley was set for a second interview, signaling continued progression in their search.
Meanwhile, former Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was also in the mix and had a second interview scheduled, but he was later named Falcons head coach before that session. As of now, Hafley and Stefanski had second interviews, with about 11 candidates having either been interviewed or scheduled for one. The Dolphins’ first-round interviews were ongoing, and the team continued evaluating candidates, aiming to align coaching leadership with their new GM’s vision. 🏈🔎🧭🧑💼🗝️
