Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley 'picks brain' of NFL icon for advice

Miami Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley is entering his first season as an NFL head coach. Photo by Alex Butler/UPIMIAMI, June 9 (UPI) -- Miami Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley took time to "pick the brain" of Hall of Famer Jimmy Johnson before his first season as an NFL head coach, he said Tuesday.

>Hafley spoke about the meeting before the Dolphins held their final organized team activity session of the off-season in Miami Gardens, Fla. He met with the former Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys coach last week at Jimmy Johnson's Big Chill restaurant in Key Largo, Fla.

>Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and former coach Dave Wannstedt also attended the meeting, where they bonded over nachos.

>"I just asked him a lot of questions and listened to him about his first go in Dallas," Hafley said of Johnson. "They had a really rough first year and he went on to win Super Bowls.

>"I asked him about his time here and his time at all the stops and any advice that he could give me, going forward this year, advice with the coaches, advice with the players, advice on game day and just really picked his brain.

>"To have such a good resource and one of the greatest coaches of all time an hour and 15 minutes down the road, getting that opportunity was really cool for me."

>Wannstedt, who coached the Dolphins from from 2000 through 2004, also was a guest during Dolphins minicamp. Hafley considers him a mentor.

>He didn't share the specific advice he received from either coach, but said he has communicated throughout his career with Wannstedt when he needs to clear his head or "see big picture."

>

Really impressed with the Dolphins leadership Sullivan & Hafley..nice visit at the Big Chill pic.twitter.com/DK3pnZKxOr— Jimmy Johnson (@JimmyJohnson) June 5, 2026

Johnson, who posted a photo from the meeting Friday on social media, said that Hafley has the "right demanding approach." Hafley has said his most important goals are to set the "culture and developing a standard" for the Dolphins.

>The former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator recently described his coaching style, saying he favors "constant communication."

>"It's constant feedback and coaching and teaching, because I do think a lot of the times if you get the feedback fast, it sticks longer, right?" Hafley said. "I think going to the film room is really important because then you can really spend the time to teach.

>"And some coaches don't like a lot of teaching on the field because they just want to go, go, go, which is fine. I would just rather give constant feedback and constant communication, as long as it doesn't hold up practice.

>"It's the same thing in practice with coaches. If I see something, I'll ask a coach to come over and have a conversation and ask why he did what he did, or why he called what he called or what he's teaching there, or did he see what happened or say something else that I saw."

>Hafley examines film to gauge player effort. He follows those sessions with morning meetings, showing players 30 or 40 plays and calling them out for poor or strong effort.

>While teams around the NFL continue to examine their rosters before entering training camp, Hafley also said he plans to do some self-evaluation of his first off-season as an NFL head coach.

>"It's something that I have thought about," Hafley said. "I think once we finish this week. I think it's very important I take a step back and just re-evaluate everything since I've been here and look very closely at the things I like that i did, the things I didn't like that I did. But i think that will be very important for me to do.

>"I'd be making stuff up right now and giving you answers you want to hear or didn't want to hear. I'm going take some time to think through that, go over the staff, go over the players, kinda like a clear head, because it's been go, go, go, but that's something I'll take some time and do soon."

>Dolphins players consistently use the word "detail" when it comes to describing their 47-year-old coach.

>Veteran edge rusher Josh Uche, who signed with the Dolphins in March, said he noticed similarities between Hafley and one of his former coaches, Bill Belichick.

>"Being with coach Belichick for four years, you see the type of detail being a very important part of the game," Uche said. "He brings that same type of energy, same type of detail.

>"With coach Belichick, any little thing he saw, he was pressing you. Coach Hafley is the same. Every little detail matters and that is how you win games."

>The Dolphins, who experienced an off-season locker room transformation, and now appear to be a team built on physicality, are attempting to snap an NFL-worst 26-year drought without a postseason victory.

>This off-season, the Dolphins are one of the biggest long shots to win the Super Bowl. They also have the lowest projected win total (4.5 games) in 2026.

>But the focus isn't on past failures under Hafley, who has one of the best minds in NFL history in his ear.

>"It's open mind, open ears and being focused on learning," said wide receiver Malik Washington, who is entering his third season with the Dolphins. "Not thinking we did it like this last year or having that feeling of any entitlement.

>"It's a fresh start. It's a brand new opportunity. Taking advantage of that. I'm doing whatever I can do to be a part of what [Hafley] wants going on."

>Dolphins training camp is expected to kick off in late July. They will face the Washington Commanders in their first preseason game Aug. 14 in Landover, Md.