The Miami Dolphins have interviewed and requested interviews for more than 10 potential candidates. Two of them have been Head Coaches in the NFL, Robert Saleh and Kevin Stefanski. Each and every other candidate would be a first time NFL Head Coach. In case you haven’t been paying attention, former Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh has all but signed a contract with the NY Giants to be their Head Coach, and is therefore no longer available. As the Dolphins conduct this very thorough search, there’s potential that some of these candidates are signed by other teams as there are 5 other Head Coach vacancies, the Baltimore Ravens, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Atlanta Falcons, the Las Vegas Raiders and the Cleveland Browns. To be fair, the Steelers and the Ravens, two of the very best NFL organizations would have to have a leg up on the competition as each of their last Head Coach’s tenure lasted nearly 2 decades ), 19 years to be exact. On the flip side, our Miami Dolphins have gone through 6 Head Coaches during the span that both Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh were with their respective teams. If a candidate is looking for stability, Miami isn’t the place. If they’re looking for a team with a great young QB, they’ll have to look elsewhere. If they’re looking for a team with a great roster that is flush with caps space, once again, they’ll have to look somewhere else.
Thankfully, there are only 32 Head Coaching jobs in the NFL, and at this moment, there are only 6 Head Coaching jobs available. Miami most certainly has fantastic weather, no state income tax, and an owner willing to pay to win, so the salary for any potential Head Coach here will not be an obstacle. I spend a lot of time on our Dolphins, but I’m not going to tell you that I spend a lot of time watching every other NFL team and have identified the best Head Coach candidate for the Dolphins. I’m not going to use AI either (Sorry Markey!). I do have a day job that occupies more than enough of my time, so I won’t profess from my vast or really non existent knowledge of these candidates who the right guy is. That doesn’t mean, however, I don’t have preferences. I do, and for various reasons that I will tell you about.
I’m not against hiring another first time Head Coach. That being said, I’d say my first preference would be Kevin Stefanski. Stefanski seems like a no nonsense type of guy, and as usual, teams flip from one type of personality to the other end of the spectrum. Where Mike McDaniel rewards a player for having a “good practice” by allowing them to choose the music they play at practice, with Stefanski it’s unlikely they even get a pat on the back. It’s expected, demanded even that players practice well. I would put Robert Saleh, not only as the other guy with Head Coaching experience, but as a bit of a hardass and no nonsense approach. He’s not there to be the players friends, he’s there to get them ready for each game and assure that they understand their assignments and how and when to do them. Anthony Campanile, our former LB Coach also strikes me as that type of guy. I like all of them, but Stefanski would be my top choice due to his experience and success as a HC.
The next tier of guys are Klint Kubiak, OC for the Seattle Seahawks, Chris Shula, DC for the LA Rams and Jesse Minter, DC for the LA Chargers. Not going to lie, there is some romanticism when you think of having Don Shula’s grandson here as a successful Head Coach, it’s a great story. He’s a little raw, but the DNA is there, and the name is all over the history of the Miami Dolphins. Klint Kubiak has done an excellent job with Jets castoff QB Sam Darnold and a young no name WR corps. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is now a household name, exploding this season into one of the NFL’s best WR’s with nearly 1800 receiving yards and 10 TD’s. Jesse Minter ran the 9th best defense in scoring allowing only 20.0 PPG and did so with a No Name defense led on the D-line by a couple of Dolphins castoffs, Teair Tart and Da’Shawn Hand. Chris Shula had the 10th best defense in points allowed with 20.4 PPG right behind Jesse Minter’s Chargers. Shula took a young defense with some excellent recent draft picks such as DE’s Jared Verse and Braden Fiske and safety Kamren Kinchens. Now that Jon-Eric Sullivan is in place, there’s some hope that we can start hitting on draft picks, rather than wallow in misery as in 2nd year OLB Chop Robinson evaporating before our eyes, Jonah “TWOPICKS” Savaiinaea, or maybe it should be “toothpicks” as it seems that’s what it seems like his arms are as he’s routinely pancaked and turnstiled by defenders. We need talent on this roster, and we need a coach that can make the most of it.
Back to Robert Saleh, who unfortunately for him, was hired by the New York Jets, where players and coaches alike go to fail. Yes, that’s like a guy standing in a glass house throwing rocks at his neighbors, because let’s face it, we’re right there with the Jets, always. So if we discount Saleh’s failure with the Jets as being with the Jets, Saleh is a guy who continues to have success with his defenses, and this year, he did so without a talented defensive roster. The leader in sacks with only 4 was DL Bryce Huff. DE Nick Boas was lost for the season early on in Week 3, and despite not sacking QB’s, the Niners had a staggeringly low total of 20 sacks, and for perspective, our toothless Dolphins defense had 39 sacks, but allowed a lot more points than the Niners defense. Saleh is a good coach, and he will get another opportunity as a Head Coach soon, maybe even this season, and maybe with the Dolphins. We’ll see.
On to new GM Jone-Eric Sullivan, or “Sully”. Sully has his work cut out for him, and his first order of work is identifying a Head Coach he can work with seamlessly and one that he believes will have success here in Miami. We have an awful lot of holes right now, the CB’s we signed off the scrap heap are free agents, so their success last season doesn’t help us much. CB’s that are signed for 2026 are as follows. Storm Duck (who is recovering from a season ending knee injury), Julius Brents (who has a torn MCL and meniscus injury), Jason Marshall who is healthy but started only 1 game. Isaiah Johnson tore his ACL in practice in late December (not back in ’63) but may or may not be available for the ’26 season. Jason Maitre is also on the roster but a PS squad only player who hasn’t yet played in the NFL. Th,th,th,th, that’s all folks! Once again you can thank former GM Chris Grier for doing a wonderful job with the roster and the cap. Complete failures in both respects. So Sully has to remove talent in order to add it, and that likely means the departure, either by cut or trade of OLB Bradley Chubb. Chubb is due to make $23.9M next season and we can’t afford that. I hope we’re able to trade Chubb, we could use the cap space and picks too, but he might have to be a post June 1st cut in order to free up space if the latter can’t be done.
The O-line, a perennial discussion here in Miami still needs work. While LT Patrick Paul and OC Aaron Brewer seem to be inked for their respective positions, LG Jonah Savaiinaea, RG James Daniels who played all of 3 snaps for the Dolphins is a huge question mark coming off of two major injuries in a row. So Markey will tell you it’s just bad luck, but when you continually draft or sign in free agency players with injury histories, or even coming of a major injury, you then put yourself and the team in jeopardy. Well, Chris Grier lost on Jeopardy and will most likely never be a GM again after his disastrous performance in Miami. Oft injured RT Austin Jackson who played only 6 games in 2025 and only 8 games in 2024 means he’s played 14 of 34 games in the last 2 seasons. It seems the O-line will once again need to be addressed with potentially 3 spots in question for 2026.
The D-line is a better story, although not a great one. 1st RD pick Kenneth Grant was below average this season but showed some growth overall. His rookie line mates actually exceeded his play, both DT’s Zeek Biggers and Jordan Phillips, Biggers a 7th RD pick and Phillips a 5th RD pick. We’re also really set at ILB with both All Pro LB Jordyn Brooks returning along with Tyrel Dodson. At OLB, tis a sad story. Chop Robinson was practically useless in 2025 contributing 21 tackles and 4 sacks as his snap counts diminished in his 2nd season from 53% to just 44%. We have to hope whomever is HC and the DC they hire can find a way to turn that around. With so many holes to fill, you’d have to think Chop is going to play a lot of football next season. At safety, bringing back Minkah Fitzpatrick, who played well last season for us, and then potentially we’ll see if Dante Trader Jr. who flashed some last season can grow into a starter.
On offense, the big ugly void at QB is staring right at anyone who takes this job. Sorry, you can’t look at this roster and think we’re going to have QB Tua Tagovailoa under center in 2026. If whomever is hired disagrees, I may have a breakdown. The best financial path is to have a competition at the QB position, Quinn ewers would be one guy and I’d love to draft another QB in ’26, not necessarily Day 1 or even Day 2, but a player who can provide competition and have potential to start if necessary. Listen, I’ve said it a bunch of times, if Tua Tagovailoa wants to get himself into awesome shape and come in here with the attitude that he’s willing to play to win, not to “not get hurt” and put his body on the line within reason, then I’m cool with him being part of the competition, but nothing can be handed to him, no way, no sir! He must earn that spot, and in addition, the other 2 QB’s on the roster MUST BE PREPARED TO PLAY, because even if Tua wins the job, how long he lasts if he does play to win, or how poorly he plays if he doesn’t, the other fellas better be ready to go!
WR and TE are two glaring holes. You have to believe that WR Tyreek Hill and his bloated salary has played his last game in Miami, if not the NFL altogether with such a gruesome knee injury. Jaylen Waddle is pretty much middle to bottom as far as #1 WR’s go. We definitely need talent to add to Waddle and the two Washington’s (Malik and Tahj), as well as resurrect Nick Westbook-Ikhine, and then develop Theo Wease. Malik looks like a solid slot WR, but we need someone to threaten the defense on deep balls and red zone balls like 50/50 balls. I though NWI was that guy, but McDaniel could never get him involved after having a career year with the Titans in 2024 with 9 TD’s.
Once again, Sully has a tough assignment ahead of him. He must identify the the right Head Coach candidate and then hopefully that candidate accepts the job. Then he has to find the time to comb through the roster and the cap situation and get prepared for Free Agency, where we can only pick up scraps as we are OVER THE CAP right now. He has to evaluate the roster and prepare for the upcoming draft and form a draft board with his new Head Coach, but ultimately, Sully will be responsible for the draft and making those choices with input from the HC, but the choice is Sully’s to make and will reflect on him and him only. It’s one of the reasons I’m so pleased we cleaned house, there will be no finger pointing here, one man is responsible, the wait it has to be. In that regard, we have done well, and I pray as a long time Dolphins fanatic, that we continue to make good choices
GO DOLPHINS!!! GO SULLY!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
I think McDermott will end up in Baltimore. He’s too seasoned a coach to go to Pittsburgh IMO. They usually like grooming a young guy.
Mike E.
says:
January 19, 2026 at 1:18 pm
I’m not sure I want McDermott. What would the Bills be w/o Josh Allen? Nothing! They live and die by him, always.
TBF, McDermott went to the playoffs his first year with Tyrod Taylor and some other guys before Allen even got there. The only losing season he’s had was Allen’s rookie season.
Yes, and they scored 3 points, and lost
Not a valid counterpoint, but okay.
Good luck tonight, Miami and Indiana.
Good luck tonight, Miami
There, I fixed it for you….
Just woke up. Wow, McDermott fired. That’s crazy. Scapegoat anyone. Does Tomlin suddenly want to come out of retirement? lol
Just didn’t see him being on any kind of hot seat. Your QB turns the ball over 4 times and you get fired for it.
Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet out for remainder of playoffs with torn ACL
The Lions are hiring former Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing as their new OC, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported.
I graduated from IU, though I grew up rooting for The U. In this matchup, I go with my youth. Give me The U. Not a prediction, just a desired outcome.
SB – getting g to the playoffs doesn’t impress me. It’s what you do when you’re thar matters. That’s why McDaniel and Tua are both gone.
I’ll add this, if you watch Bills games and come away thinking that McDermott was doing a great job with that team, you might be the only one
The Bills should have fired their GM but instead promoted him. He puts teams together that rely on Josh Allen to save them every week.
You said he wasn’t anything without Josh Allen and I showed you where he was successful coaching a team with a bunch of bums at QB. Now you’re moving the goalposts as usghe.
They lost that game 10-3 btw. It’s not like they were blown out.
Reports are we are hiring Jeff Hafley as our HC.
Yep, multiple reports by all of the main sources.
BBM’s Post Divisional Round Mock Draft
28. Blake Miller OT Clemson
38. A.J. Haulcy S LSU
43. Chris Johnson CB San Diego State
69. Josiah Trotter LB Missouri
75. Brian Parker II OG Duke
87. Eli Raridon TE Notre Dame
90. Dani Dennis-Sutton EDGE Penn State
111. Keionte Scott CB Miami (FL)
149. Sawyer Robertson QB Baylor
201. Caden Curry EDGE Ohio State
227. Jeff Caldwell WR Cincinnati
243. Nadame Tucker EDGE Western Michigan
Green Bay South edition.
One can hope
Yep and I don’t mind it. We needed a total culture change.
Tim Knight
says:
January 19, 2026 at 5:21 pm
The Bills should have fired their GM but instead promoted him. He puts teams together that rely on Josh Allen to save them every week.
_____
You ever watch an NFL game with a top notch QB? That’s what they all do.
Beane is smart enough to know that to win in the league long term you have to build the trenches and have a top notch QB while maximizing the production you get from the RB and WR/TE positions without overpaying them.
Was he the greatest? No, but he’s been a top GM since he took over.
Agree to disagree. The Bills also feasted on a weak AFC East for about 5 years.
The GM built the team from the ground up through the draft while focusing on the important positions while also focusing salary cap to those positions, something that the Dolphins have failed to do for decades. You can disagree with that if you like, but those are the facts.
SB – No, actually you decided in your own little head that making the playoffs was special. Tony Sparano made the playoffs. I didn’t move the goalposts, your kick was 20 yards short all by itself. Tyrod Taylor was a serviceable QB when he was younger. We’ll see how McDermott does in his next stop
My head is quite large, actually, that I look like a Lego person, so you’re already starting off being wrong. Then you go on to ascribe something to me that I didn’t say, so wrong again. Then you lie about not moving the goalposts when you clearly did. Wrong Thrice.
Being serviceable isn’t a complement and Taylor’s never made the playoffs as a starter with any team other than that year with the Bills. The Bills hadn’t been to a playoff game the 18 years previously. It was McDermott who put the right coaches around Josh Allen to develop him. Denying all these things is foolish.
Well, at least the changes make the draft, training camp, and next season interesting. Personally, I have no expectations of winning much next year, but I would like to see a philosophy and player development. I also like the “no mercenaries” stance. I remember when Green Bay was hardly ever a player in FA.
Yep
Won’t it be nice to see a coach on the sideline that coaches, and doesn’t have to worry about calling the offense?
Doubt he wears capris.
Can’t wait see who he hires as his coordinators.
Was just going to say, now on to the coordinators.
And new scouts
F’kn capris… I would love to see Miami’s coach show up in a suit, à la Tom Landry.
A seersucker suit with a Panama hat…can’t get more South Florida than that.
Something like Don Johnson wore in Miami Vice would be good. Unfortunately the NFL does not allow suits because of their partnerships with clothing companies, I believe.
Chet, Chet, Chet!!!
Is that from the Santa Clause 2
We’re Stewed, Buttwad!
CHET
We have one of the hardest schedules next year and probably no Tua. We could be set with an early pick QB in 17 months. Things are looking up so far….
This really makes the off season interesting now!
pheloniusphish
says:
January 19, 2026 at 6:27 pm
A seersucker suit with a Panama hat…can’t get more South Florida than that.
______
You mean like Cuban Pete, the king of the rhumba beat?
The Desi Arnez version
Hafley played at Siena (no football team now), a small private college about 15 minutes from me. One of my buddies played football with him.
You live in Alnany, NY tri-city?
correct
He grew up in Montvale, NJ about 30 minutes from where I grew up. When we were young teens we would go to the Roller Rink in Montvale in the late 70’s. Coach was just being born. 😂
I am hoping very much that the familiarity between Sully and Chet is a good thing and not a bad thing….
Oh, by the way, WE CANNOT be the only people that were dogging on his hairstyle. I have heard several people say “the fans” don’t like him because of his hair…
THEY ARE NOT READING US! LOL
That’s all we have as fans is the hope that they are successful. If we got the GM right, that’s 80% of winning the battle IMO.
I’m starting to believe we are going to draft a CB at 11
and it might be the first CB off the board
I think the top 3 are generally said to be Mansor Delane, Avieon Terrell and Jerrod McCoy
anyone have any favorites
my early favorite is Delane…but I haven’t watched too much of any of them
I’ve taken Delane in almost every one of my mocks
Every team runs the same stuff on offense. Some do certain things more than others. Defenses morph to defend it. Base offense or defense is a thing of the past.
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/report-dolphins-give-jeff-hafley-a-five-year-deal
WELCOME TO MIAMI, COACH HAFLEY!
Looking forward to seeing who our new OC and DC will be!
and scouts
Absolutely!
I wonder if he will call the D
GOOD LUCK to both teams tonight!
GO MIAMI!
GO INDIANA!
I see us attempting to build a team like Seattle. Made for all matchups in any condition. Enough with can’t win in the cold.
Yep!
And Green Bay
Y’all,
Can’t believe I missed out on the discussion of Hafley’s haircut here on this blog. Who called it out? I’m honestly curious, because I read something that was written yesterday, talking about people clowning Hafley’s hair. I had NO IDEA it started here?
I don’t care who here was talking about it (it’s all good fun IMO), but who in the media called it out?
The one I read came from Matty I(nfante).
Beautiful place to live for 3 months out of the year….lol….did it for 10
Haircuts? What is this The View? 😂
Mendoza is bleeding from his lips.
No biggie, but he’s taking a lot of hits early on.
Ah, shit… he DID take a shot.
It was big, he could have broken the kid’s jaw. It was an upward hit with the crown of the helmet. Targeting imo.
Agreed, Rich. Seeing it on replay? Man, that was NASTY. Yes… it easily could have been considered targeting.
MF,
Steve was the first to mention he had a buzz cut and I said he looked like Chet from Weird Science. Then Pieguy posted an article the next day in defense of Hafley and the guy who wrote the article kept mentioning criticisms of his haircut (which I assume were just banter and jokes), but somehow the author took it personally.
ps. I’m not correcting any run-on sentences.
Thanks, SB7! I’ll check out Pieguy’s posted article.
yeah I don’t think he read the blog, but the article reads like he actually did. Pretty much all of the discussion here is rehashed in the article.
Brian in NY
says:
January 19, 2026 at 7:56 pm
I wonder if he will call the D
————
Man, I hope not. Nothing against Hafley, being he’s a good DC… but I believe a HC needs to HC the game.
BAIN is really putting some stuff on tape tonight.
🤣🤣
This is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen.
SB7,
Yes, that’s the exact same article I’d read yesterday… the one Evan (PieGuy) had posted here. I was wondering how wide-spread said “Haircut Gate” had spread, LOL.
Perhaps Matty I is a reader of this blog? Hmmmm… don’t know for sure, but I do know ONE thing for sure: we ARE being read from the outside. And I’m not talking the casual reader who might stumble onto this blog.