Jeff Hafley earned a Bachelor’s degree in history from Siena College and a Master’s degree from the University of Albany. On January 19, 2026 Hafley was named the 12th head coach of the Miami Dolphins. The 2026 season marks Hafley's 26th year of coaching, 10th season in the NFL and his first with the Dolphins. He also has four years of experience as a head coach at the collegiate level.
Hafley most recently served as the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, a role he held for two seasons (2024-25). During his time with Green Bay, the Packers posted a 20-13-1 regular season record and made consecutive playoff appearances.
In his first season as defensive coordinator in 2024, Hafley led a Packers defense that ranked fifth in total defense (314.5 yards per game) and in yards allowed per play (5.2), seventh in run defense (99.4 yards per game), sixth in scoring defense (19.9 points per game) and fourth in takeaways (31), while finishing tied for eighth in sacks (45). The unit improved by significant margins from 2023, when it ranked 17th in total defense (335.1 yards per game), 20th in yards allowed per play (5.4), 28th in run defense (128.3 yards per game) and 23rd in takeaways (18).
The Packers were one of only two teams in the league, along with Minnesota, to record more than 45 sacks and 30-plus takeaways in 2024. They were also one of just three teams, joining Baltimore and Denver, to allow fewer than 100 rushing yards per game and fewer than 4.0 yards per carry, marking only the second time since 2000 that Green Bay achieved both marks in the same season.
Prior to Green Bay, Hafley served as head coach at Boston College (2020-23), leading the Eagles to bowl eligibility in three of four seasons, including a victory over No. 17 SMU in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl to cap off the 2023 campaign. During his tenure, Boston College produced 35 All-ACC selections and had four players selected in the NFL Draft, including the program's first consecutive first-round picks since 2011–12 with wide receiver Zay Flowers (No. 22 overall in 2023) and guard Zion Johnson (No. 17 overall in 2022).
Prior to leading the program at Boston College, Hafley served as co‑defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Ohio State in 2019, helping lead the Buckeyes to a Big Ten championship title and a berth in the College Football Playoff. Before Ohio State, Hafley spent seven seasons in the NFL. He spent three seasons (2016–18) as San Francisco's defensive backs coach. Prior to the 49ers, Hafley spent two seasons (2014–15) as the secondary coach for the Cleveland Browns, helping the unit produce one of the NFL's most efficient pass defenses in 2014.
Hafley's NFL coaching career began with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he served as the assistant defensive backs coach in 2012 and the secondary/safeties coach in 2013.
In his first stint at the collegiate level, Hafley spent the 2011 season coaching the secondary at Rutgers. Prior to Rutgers, Hafley coached at the University of Pittsburgh from 2006 to 2010, working as a defensive assistant and cornerbacks coach (2006-07) and as the secondary coach (2008-10). Before his time at Pitt, he spent four seasons at UAlbany, coaching the defensive backs (2004-05) and the defensive tackles (2002-03). During that time, he helped develop Kurt Campbell, who became the first player in UAlbany’s program history to be selected in the NFL Draft when he was chosen by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round in 2005. Hafley began his coaching career at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2001, working with the running backs.
Hafley played wide receiver from 1997 to 2000 at Siena College, where he was a four-year letterwinner.