One of Jeff Hafley’s most controversial hires may have been a little too good for the Dolphins’ own good
Jeff Hafley may need to go back to the drawing board if this report comes true.
The Miami Dolphins are welcoming a new coaching staff in 2026 — one that offers very little in the way of leftovers from the previous regime.
That new coaching staff offers plenty of room for opinions on the hires, especially with so many vacancies being filled by new names. Many of the coaches Miami has tabbed for key roles on the staff have ample college experience. But not all of them. One of the team’s most experienced and accomplished position coaches under Jeff Hafley may have been too good of a hire for Miami’s own good. Nathaniel Hackett signed on to be Miami’s quarterbacks coach but he’s reportedly already getting consideration for a more prestigious job elsewhere.
New Dolphins QB coach Nathaniel Hackett reportedly under consideration for Cardinals OC position
CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz has been a constant figure in the reporting of coaching hires across the league this offseason. He’s got his crosshairs firmly on Hackett with this latest report, he’s among “early possibilities” for Arizona’s offensive coordinator post. Hackett was not a popular hire by the Dolphins thanks to his shortcomings in Denver as the Broncos head coach and then as the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets from 2023 through 2024.
But Hackett was a strong enough performer as the offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills (2013-2014), Jacksonville Jaguars (2016-2018), and Green Bay Packers (2019-2021) that he eventually got that head coaching opportunity in Denver.
Some guys are just better equipped to be a position coach. Hackett would have the opportunity to prove that in Miami in 2026…that is, of course, assuming he ends up not getting the Cardinals offensive coordinator post under Arizona’s new head coach, Mike LaFleur.
The Hackett hire wasn’t popular with the fanbase. But it seems to be a little too popular with league circles already. It may send Hafley back to the drawing board for a leader in his quarterback room.