PHOENIX – Jeff Hafley took a gamble two years ago when he relinquished his position as the head coach at Boston College to become the Packers' new defensive coordinator.
Hafley walked away from his dream job of leading a football program and bet his coaching career on the direction Green Bay was headed under Head Coach Matt LaFleur.
It turned into a win-win for both coaches. LaFleur gave Hafley a chance and Hafley provided LaFleur one of the league's punchiest defenses the past two seasons.
After 20 wins and back-to-back playoff appearances, Hafley was introduced in January as the new head coach of the Miami Dolphins, becoming the first Packers defensive coordinator to be promoted directly to an NFL head-coaching position since Phil Bengston succeeded Vince Lombardi in 1968.
As Hafley sat at last Tuesday's AFC coaches breakfast during the NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix, he reflected not only on his unique journey but also the chance LaFleur took on him.
"I'm just so grateful that Matt gave me the opportunity to come back to the NFL because he changed my life," Hafley said. "He gave me the opportunity to come back to the NFL and all of a sudden, I'm a head coach again. Not only do I love him as a person, but I think he's one of the best coaches in our league."
Hafley is the second branch to grow off LaFleur's head-coaching tree and one of several former Packers players and coaches who have migrated to Miami since former Green Bay personnel executive Jon-Eric Sullivan was hired as the Dolphins' general manager.
In building his inaugural coaching staff, Hafley brought with him longtime assistant Sean Duggan, former Packers secondary coach Ryan Downard and defensive quality control coach Wendel "Ball King" Davis.
Sullivan and Hafley also signed former Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis in the opening hours of unrestricted free agency – jumpstarting a new era in Miami that's has been referred to facetiously as "Green Bay South."
LaFleur himself had a good time with the bit during the NFC coaches breakfast last Monday, joking with reporters: "They're taking everybody" before shifting to a serious tone.
"I would just say it's just about getting the right kind of character within your football building," LaFleur said.
"And then just going to work and trying to get a little bit better each and every day, but it all starts with the people. I always go back to our people. I know Sully and Haf well, and I think they're going to do a great job with it."
Hafley reiterates that his Dolphins will build their own unique identity and culture based on demanding work in the Miami heat and pure physicality, but he does carry with him many lessons learned from his time in Green Bay.
It starts with how LaFleur managed his offensive playcalling duties while also defining "the standard" for his football team, a 12-month balancing act whether it's organizing the offseason calendar or weekly game preparation during the season.
Hafley will continue calling defensive plays in Miami while Duggan serves as his defensive coordinator, responsibilities that will closely mirror how LaFleur utilizes offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich in Green Bay.
"What helped me was seeing Matt as the offensive coordinator and the head coach, the way he sets everything up," Hafley said. "For me to now be the head coach and the defensive coordinator that has helped me a lot. The way Matt handled that during the offseason and was able to let Steno do a lot in the offseason, so he could really be the head coach."
More than just Xs and Os, Hafley gained a great deal of respect for LaFleur based on how he treats people and pushes his staff to improve. LaFleur isn't afraid to do the work, either.
Many times over the past two years, Hafley recalls LaFleur being the last person at Lambeau. On the way out of the office, Hafley would pop into LaFleur's office and ask, "What are you doing?" LaFleur didn't have to say a word. The answer was clear – anything and everything required to win on Sunday.
There were rumblings at year's end about what the Packers' five-game losing streak to end the 2025 season might mean for LaFleur's future, a narrative President and CEO Ed Policy dispelled last week in Phoenix.
Hafley shakes his head at it, too. LaFleur's track record speaks for itself and Hafley would not be in the seat he sits today without it. Because Hafley's time in Green Bay not only earned him this opportunity but also made him a better head coach.
The two coaches will meet this upcoming season, as the Dolphins travel to Green Bay. Hafley looks forward to that reunion and postgame handshake.
"From what has done in this league and his win percentage and what he's done at Green Bay, guy's had one of the best careers and deserves to be the head coach of the Green Bay Packers," Hafley said. "It wouldn't surprise me if they continue to take steps that eventually gets himself a Super Bowl."
