How NFL Insiders Ranked the Dolphins Hiring of Jeff Hafley Among New HCs
Jan 22, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley looks on before his introductory press conference at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn ImagesTen teams hired head coaches this offseason, which means a third of NFL fanbases (at least) will be operating on 100% hopium this upcoming season.
For Miami Dolphins fans, this has become par for the course since our beloved Dan Marino rode off into the sunset back in the year of our lord 2000. Now, with another head coach - and finally, a new general manager - the Dolphins hope to right the ship for the first time in a long time.
Before I tell you how the Hafley hiring ranked among the other nine head coaching hires, we must first establish what an NFL Insider" is.
In this article,The Athletic asked a panel of nine coaches and executives to rank their top-five head-coaching hires of the cycle. Coaches received five points for a first-place vote, four points for a second-place vote, three points for a third-place vote, two points for a fourth-place vote, and one point for a fifth-place vote. Voters are not employed by any of the 10 teams that just hired a new head coach.
This is what we will consider an insider moving forward.
Now, let's take a look at how these NFL Insiders ranked the 10 Newest Head Coaching Hires.
Obviously, the first coach on this list is an obvious one - and it's John Harbaugh. There was no better option on the open market than the former Baltimore Ravens HC, and the insiders agreed. The New York Giants head coach received 42 total points, receiving six first-place votes.
Kevin Stefanski, the Atlanta Falcons' newest head coach, came in second with 25 points (1 first-place vote).
Despite having an interest in Harbaugh in the past, it seemed like Stephen Ross knew better than to try to bring the 62-year-old to South Florida to take on a top-to-bottom rebuild. Stefanski at least interviewed, but he, too, had better options available. And let's be honest, Sully had his guy in mind from the very beginning.
Baltimore Ravens HC Jesse Minter came in third with 24 points. He also received one first-place vote.
Coming in at 4th is Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike McCarthy. He may be 62, but that didn't stop NFL insiders from ranking him slightly above Miami's new head coach. Speaking of which...
5. Jeff Hafley, Miami Dolphins (9 points)Hafley made a fairly surprising move two years ago when he jumped from Boston College's head coach to the Packers' defensive coordinator; it seems like the jump was worth it. Like Stefanski with the Falcons, Hafley gets a clean slate with newly hired general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan.
Hafley and Jon-Eric is the cleanest combo coming in together," an executive said. Hafley being a coach at BC is going to benefit him tremendously with this. I think that's a really cool fit. They have a way to go with the roster."
The Dolphins have to determine quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's future with the organization. If they move on, it could signify a total rebuild, which will be more difficult because of the salary-cap implications.
It will be integral for Dolphins owner Stephen Ross to give this duo a long runway to establish their system. But the organization has gone a quarter century without a playoff win, so it will have to keep tapping into that patience.
Hafley appeared on five ballots and received a third-place vote, two fourth-place votes, and two fifth-place votes.
In my opinion, whether Dolphins fans liked the signing or not, it seemed evident from the way the coaching cycle had gone that, if it weren't for Miami, Hafley would've landed one of the other vacant head coaching gigs. And yet, Jon Eric Sullivan knew EXACTLY who he wanted to be his HC, the moment he became the general manager in Miami.
We spoke with a lot of very, very talented coaches who brought a lot to the table, and it was a great process because in speaking with all of them, it just confirmed my conviction on that this was the right guy. I got to watch him work for two years. Jeff (Hafley) is a friend of mine; we've become friendly over the last two years, but understand this hire was based on professional respect. I have watched him day in and day out connect with players. I've watched his ability to teach, I've watched his ability to inspire, and I've watched the intellect and the organization and how people, coaches and players around the building buy into him.
Rounding out the top-10 were Las Vegas Raiders HC Klint Kubiak and Tennessee Titans HC Robert Saleh, who were both tied with 7 points. Buffalo Bills HC Joe Brady finished 8th with 6 points, but did receive one first-place vote in the survey.
Additionally, the hires of Mike LaFleur in Arizona and Todd Monken in Cleveland both finished last, earning zero points.
In the end, it will be years before we have a clearer picture of how this head-coaching carousel played out. But for now, the Dolphins have a new tandem at the top, and for the first time in a long time, they're building this thing the right way.
How do you feel about how the NFL Insiders ranked these ten head coaches? Do you think Jeff Hafley should have been higher on the list? Is there another HC on this list that you would have preferred over Hafley? Let us know in the comments section below!
(P.S I started writing this article & then got sick. Forgive the long delay.