Rooney Rule Timing in Miami May Help Titans’ Chances With Jeff Hafley

Update, Sunday: Reports indicate the Dolphins could have both Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard in on Monday, fulfilling their Rooney Rule obligations.
 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – With Kevin Stefanski, Jeff Hafley and Matt Nagy as the initial finalists for the Titans coaching job, things seem to set up for Nagy.
 
Nagy has no obstacles, while Stefanski is in Atlanta Saturday, where he’s seen as the favorite before a planned meeting in Nashville Sunday, and Hafley will be in Miami Monday, where he’s seen as the favorite before a scheduled meeting in Nashville on Tuesday.
Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley before an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley before an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
But the Dolphins won’t be able to keep Hafley in Miami to finalize a deal.
Since hiring Joe-Eric Sullivan as general manager on Jan. 9, the Dolphins have not held either of their two in-person interviews with minority candidates needed to comply with the Rooney Rule.
 
The Dolphins have announced they’ve interviewed Klint Kubiak, Kevin Stefanski, Hafley, Jesse Minter, Robert Saleh, Anthony Campanile and Chris Shula.
 
Out of that group, however, only Stefanski was interviewed in person. League rules prohibit coaches under contract with teams from in-person meetings before Monday.
 
The Titans could still add to their list, with Saleh the most likely. He's coordinating the 49ers defense Saturday evening in Seattle and has a Zoom meeting with Tennessee Sunday evening. If San Francisco wins and plays on, it could be difficult for the Titans to wait on him for a second interview and a possible hire.
 
NFL Media is calling Hafley the frontrunner for the Miami job and Matt Schneidman reported the timing of Hafley's interviews.

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