The Miami Dolphins are trying to build a new identity under Jeff Hafley; however, the first-year head coach knows one thing that cannot get lost along the way: his attention. Hafley is a defensive coach by nature, and he wants his fingerprints all over that side of the ball. Still, he understands the danger of letting that responsibility swallow his head-coaching duties.
So the Dolphins' new boss is taking a different route. Hafley plans to keep calling the defense while creating enough support around himself to stay involved with the offense, special teams, and the rest of the roster. The structure is designed to keep him from becoming too consumed by the unit he knows best.
Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Miami Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Hafley laid out the plan on August 28, in comments shared by "The List Fins Podcast". He said calling the defense remains important to him, particularly early in his tenure; however, he will lean on offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor so he can remain involved across the team. Hafley had already made clear when he was hired that he intended to call defensive plays.
"I want to call the defense, it's really important to me.

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