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 — NFL National Writer

Jan 10, 2026 11:36 AM EST

A general manager search is usually a pretty frantic and time-consuming affair. It certainly was for the Miami Dolphins — but it took Miami all of five days to go from vacant to filled, with the job going to Jon-Eric Sullivan.

And with such an efficient timeline for a search, the Dolphins are now in a position to set about another time-consuming effort: a head coaching search. Miami wasn’t among the teams to need a head coach at the beginning of last week, but after a preliminary round of interviews with GM candidates, team owner Stephen Ross and the Dolphins pivoted.

Miami has a leadership group in place, which will include advisor Troy Aikman for a second consecutive search for a second consecutive week. That group also includes owner Ross and, as you’d expect, the team’s new general manager, Sullivan. And now we are getting our first sniff of the candidates the Dolphins are exploring.

Dolphins expected to pursue John Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski for their head coaching vacancy

Reports on Saturday morning have confirmed the Dolphins’ interest in veteran head coaching candidates Kevin Stefanski & John Harbaugh. The news of Miami’s interest in Stefanski can first be traced back to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. After much deliberation on whether or not the Dolphins had reached out to John Harbaugh earlier this week, they’re now officially on the record as having reached out to Harbaugh on Friday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Either hire would be a vast departure from what Miami has traditionally coveted in a head coach under team owner Stephen Ross. Joe Philbin, Adam Gase, Brian Flores, and Mike McDaniel were all first-time head coaches who had to learn the role’s leadership rigors on the job. Each struggled in their own way.

Miami is not guaranteed to land either. Harbaugh will have no shortage of suitors. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that as many as seven teams have reached out to the former Ravens coach. For what it’s worth, Miami was included among the “realistic” landing spots.

We’ll see what other interviews the Dolphins secure. They should be expected to undertake an expansive list of candidates on this front as well — as they should. The pressing time issues of a general manager hire and a head coaching hire have been alleviated.

Miami is back in line with the rest of the vacancies and, despite not getting any interviews this week, has made itself known to the coaching pool as a destination before any coaches made their decisions.

Let’s get the hire right. Interview all the best candidates. This build for the Dolphins isn’t about a quick turnaround. It’s about building a legitimate program with the right DNA to offer sustained success. That will take time. So, too, should finding the right person to develop the talent that they’ll collect to make that happen.

At the very least, we now know that experienced candidates will get a look. Miami has up to two of those they’re interested in already.