In the wake of a 31-27 loss to the Chicago Bears in the Wild Card in January, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters that he believed defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley would get a head coaching job in 2026.
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LaFleur was happy for Hafley, calling him a great friend and a good coach.
The Miami Dolphins hired Hafley to be their next head coach not long after former Packers vice president of player personnel Jon Eric-Sullivan became the Dolphins general manager.
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The Packers and Miami were both in need of a defensive coordinator, causing some friction to brew between LaFleur and his friend Hafley.
Per Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN, Hafley wanted to bring Green Bay linebackers coach Sean Duggan to Miami to become his defensive coordinator. LaFleur wanted to keep Duggan with the Packers.
LaFleur received an abrupt statement from Hafley clearing the issue.
“No, Sean’s coming with me,” Hafley said.
Hafley told reporters on Wednesday that LaFleur ultimately decided it was best for Duggan to leave Green Bay for Miami.
“Ultimately [LaFleur and I] decided that it was best for Sean to come here,” Hafley said. “And I say that not because he’s been with me for eight or nine years, whatever it’s been. I say that I think he’s a rising star, and he’s going to allow me to be the head coach of his team.
“I’m going to be able to touch all three phases with how good this guy is, and he’s going to allow me to be the head coach. And then when it’s time for me to call the defense, I’ll be able to call the defense.”
LaFleur didn’t do too badly for himself in finding a defensive coordinator for 2026. The Packers hired former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon to replace Hafley.
Gannon coached the Philadelphia Eagles defense in Super Bowl LVII.
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