Jeff Hafley walking for Dolphins gig is great news for Lions
Amid a busy day of coaching changes across the NFL — including Detroit finalizing Drew Petzing as its new offensive coordinator — the Miami Dolphins made a move that could quietly benefit the Lions and shake up the NFC North.
Miami hired former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as its new head coach, moving on from Mike McDaniel, a coach many Lions fans once hoped would land in Detroit. Hafley spent the last two seasons running the Packers’ defense after previously serving as Boston College’s head coach.
Hafley’s tenure in Green Bay produced mixed results. While the defense showed flashes, key metrics declined in his second season, including a sharp drop in takeaways and a noticeable regression against the run. Things worsened late in the year after an injury to star pass rusher Micah Parsons, triggering a five-game losing streak that ended with a playoff collapse against the Bears.
Now in Miami, Hafley takes over a Dolphins team looking for a reset after failing to win a playoff game during the McDaniel era. The Dolphins are also expected to explore new quarterback options as they prepare to move on from Tua Tagovailoa — and that’s where this hire could help Detroit.
One name to watch is Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis, who is set to become a free agent. Willis has been impressive in limited action behind Jordan Love, posting elite efficiency numbers and adding value as a runner. If Miami pursues him, it would weaken Green Bay by removing a reliable backup — and possibly a future starter — from a division rival.
Hafley’s departure could also create additional problems for the Packers. As a first-time NFL head coach, he’ll need to assemble his own staff and could look to bring assistants with him from Green Bay. Combined with the vacancy at defensive coordinator, this could further strain Matt LaFleur’s coaching group, which has already faced heavy criticism after their playoff loss.
There’s also a future scheduling angle. The NFC North will face the AFC East in 2026, and Hafley’s familiarity with Green Bay could give Miami a strategic edge in that matchup.
Perhaps the biggest win for Detroit, however, is what didn’t happen.
Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard was among the candidates Miami interviewed for the head coaching job. With Hafley getting the role instead, Sheppard remains in Detroit — a development that may prove valuable for the Lions.
Sheppard’s first season as DC was uneven, though injuries played a major role. Detroit lost key defensive leaders, including Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, which disrupted continuity. Even so, Sheppard oversaw breakout performances from players like Al-Quadin Muhammad and fielded dominant defensive showings against teams like Tampa Bay and Philadelphia.
Notably, Detroit’s defense improved against mobile quarterbacks and even found ways to neutralize Philadelphia’s famed “tush push.” Late-season injuries caused a defensive collapse, but the unit rebounded down the stretch, shutting down Minnesota and limiting Chicago’s Caleb Williams from reaching historic passing marks.
While Sheppard leaving could’ve opened the door for a high-profile replacement like Jim Schwartz, Detroit appears comfortable giving him another year — especially with hopes of a healthier roster.
In the end, one of the Lions’ best offseason outcomes may be the stability they managed to keep, rather than a change they were forced to make.
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