Saturday brought us our first round of the head coaching interview requests (and the first formal interview) for the Miami Dolphins‘ head coach position. Miami is in the pool with a whopping seven other franchises in search of new leadership for their football teams — it has already been an offseason of change for many teams across the league.

Miami has shown interest in a hot coordinator (Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak interviewed yesterday), a candidate with a legendary name (Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula), and is indeed reported to have interest in several experienced head coaches (John Harbaugh, Kevin Stefanski, and Robert Saleh included).

Miami got off to a late start after five days of executive consideration. But its late start to the coaching search amid the need to fill its general manager position may end up being a non-factor in its search based on the Saturday slate of wild-card games. Perhaps Miami’s best candidate still awaits.

All eyes in South Florida should be fixated (back) on Green Bay and the Packers

The Green Bay Packers lost last night in Chicago, 31-27. It marked a disappointing first-round exit in the postseason for a Green Bay team that had to endure a slew of injuries this season, including losing its prized acquisition of the summer, star pass rusher Micah Parsons.

But it was how Green Bay lost that should have the football world’s attention. The Packers led 21-3 at halftime and 21-6 entering the fourth quarter. They led 27-16 with six minutes remaining in regulation. It was a heartbreaker for a team that had several under LaFleur’s watch.

What does this have to do with the Miami Dolphins?

LaFleur and the Packers are expected to work on a new contract, as 2026 is set to be the final year of his deal with the team. And that long-term uncertainty has prompted some speculation about his status with the team. It has also prompted speculation about what the future may hold if the Packers endure a tough postseason showing.

Not only was Saturday night tough, but it was also among the most painful losses LaFleur has endured. That is…not great for business leverage. LaFleur was asked about his contract status with the team in the postgame press conference and immediately deferred to the weight of the moment.

“Yeah, with all due respect to your question,” said LaFleur. “Now’s not the time for that. I mean, I’m just hurting for these guys. You know, I can only think about just what just happened, and there will be time for that.”

It won’t calm the swell of rumors and speculation by any means — at least until we get a formal statement from the team or until the two parties come together on the extension that has been missing and helped fuel the buzz in the first place. Until we get that, it’s fair to wonder if the best head coaching candidate for the Dolphins is simply stuck in limbo.

Matt LaFleur’s background for Dolphins HC job

LaFleur is off the same coaching tree as former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. Both coaches are a part of the Kyle Shanahan tree, running different variants of the same general offensive philosophy. LaFleur, a 46-year-old coach with seven years of experience as the head coach of the Packers, is 76-40-1 in Green Bay with a 3-6 postseason record.

Given his individual successes, the role he played in a Packers team that has rebuilt after the departure of Aaron Rodgers, the success in developing Jordan Love (and Malik Willis), his connections to the scheme Miami was built for in the past several seasons, and his close working relationship with new Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan? It’s hard not to see the vision.

Even if the Packers don’t end up dismissing LaFleur, there could be a crazy play on the table for the Dolphins to attempt. If the two sides are at an impasse on an extension and prepared to let the contract year play out, the Dolphins could, in theory, send compensation to Green Bay for LaFleur.

It is a rare occurrence, but it has happened in the past — most recently when the Broncos sent a first- and second-round pick to New Orleans for Sean Payton and a third-round pick in 2023.

The Dolphins don’t really have that kind of draft capital to pour into a coach. Not with their roster needs. But Denver, of course, is the current blueprint Miami can aspire to — as a team that needed a roster makeover and was saddled by a bloated quarterback contract (Russell Wilson).

This possibility can’t go away until the Packers make it go away. Will they? Let’s find out this week.

Miami Dolphins News

No Dolphins head coach candidate will walk into their interview knowing what once made Miami great better than the newest name to enter the chat

The Dolphins requested to interview a Shula for the head coaching job.

Kyle Crabbs

Miami Dolphins News

Reports identify a pair of initial candidates drawing interest from the Dolphins in their coaching search

The first of the head coaching candidates to interest the Dolphins have emerged.

Kyle Crabbs