The first interview request for a job on Jeff Hafley’s Dolphins coaching staff has emerged

The first known interview request of the new regime has emerged.

Kyle Crabbs — NFL National Writer

Jan 21, 2026 3:53 PM EST

Miami Dolphins punter Jake Bailey (16) is shown before the start of the game, Sunday January 5, 2025, in East Rutherford. © Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Miami Dolphins‘ coaching staff will look very different in 2026 than it has in past few seasons. Miami had four years with Mike McDaniel at the helm before changes were needed — and now the changes appear to be made en masse. McDaniel was out two weeks ago. His replacement, Jeff Hafley, was finalized at the beginning of this week.

But we’re just getting started. Cornerbacks coach Mathieu Araujo is reportedly out and headed to Jacksonville. The coordinators are likely to all be brand new. It’s a necessary evil of teams rebuilding.

And now, thanks to a report from Todd Archer, ESPN’s Cowboys beat reporter, we have the first publicly reported interview request Miami has submitted for a major post on the new staff. A potential leader in the clubhouse for the special teams coordinator role has emerged.

Dolphins request to interview Cowboys assistant special teams coach Carlos Polk

The Dolphins have requested permission to speak with Cowboys assistant special teams coach Carlos Polk for their special teams coordinator opening, per source. No word yet on if Miami has asked yet about QB coach Steve Shimko, who was Jeff Hafley’s OC at Boston College.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) January 21, 2026

Miami has reportedly submitted a request to interview Carlos Polk, the Dallas Cowboys’ assistant special teams coach. We had our first clue to a change at special teams coordinator when the Dolphins’ 2025 coordinator, Craig Aukerman, interviewed for the same position with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Tuesday, more than a week ago.

Aukerman’s Dolphins special team unit had some frustrating lapses, but it was, by and large, better than what the Dolphins got from former special teams coordinator Danny Crossman, whose unit terrorized Dolphins fans for several seasons with underwhelming performances and minimal contributions to wins. As it turns out, better than Crossman’s units is presumably not enough to bridge into a new regime.

Polk has been a special teams assistant for the Chargers, Buccaneers, Cowboys, Jaguars, and Bears since 2010. Should he get the special teams coordinator position, it would be his first time holding a formal coordinator position. Dallas ranked 13th in the NFL in special teams expected points added (EPA) in 2025. Polk’s previous unit, the 2024 Chicago Bears, ranked 12th in the same measure of performance.