The Miami Dolphins are starting again. Jeff Hafley became the twelfth head coach in franchise history on January 19, 2026, replacing Mike McDaniel after a 7-10 season and a 33-35 record across four years. The modules above this line come from the live feed, so the record, the standings and the roster stay current on their own.

Hafley arrives from the other side of the ball. He spent 2024 and 2025 running the Green Bay defense, and Miami handed him five years to fix a team that has not won a playoff game this century.

The Twelfth Head Coach

Hafley is a defensive coach in a job that has recently gone to offensive minds. McDaniel came from the Shanahan tree and left with a losing record. Hafley built his reputation on secondaries, first in college and then in Green Bay, and Miami has bet that the fix is on that side.

Bobby Slowik calls the offense. He takes over a unit that has changed identity with its head coach. Sean Duggan runs the defense and Chris Tabor handles special teams, giving Hafley a coordinator group assembled entirely in his first winter.

McDaniel did not stay unemployed long. Seven days after Miami let him go, the Los Angeles Chargers hired him as their offensive coordinator. Miami visits SoFi Stadium in Week 16, though the Chargers are the home side that day.

Miami Dolphins 2026 Season Facts

Miami Dolphins 2026 Games and Kickoff Times

All kickoffs below are Eastern, which is Miami’s own clock. Choose an opponent to open that game’s page.

The bye lands in Week 6, early enough that Miami plays twelve straight weeks to finish. Sunday afternoon starts can be moved from Week 5 onward, and the Week 18 trip to Foxborough is dated once Week 17 ends.

The Miami Dolphins schedule 2026 page holds a free printable PDF, a wall calendar and every kickoff in the four US time zones. The 2026 NFL schedule covers the rest of the league.

Hard Rock Stadium and the September Heat

Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens has a canopy over the seating bowl but no walls and no roof over the field, so early season games are played in full South Florida humidity. Visiting teams from cold weather cities have historically struggled with the one o’clock September kickoff there, and Miami builds its schedule advantage around it.

In 2026 the club plays eight games at Hard Rock and nine on the road. Television is split between CBS and FOX with no national windows currently assigned, so coverage is regional and NFL Sunday Ticket carries the games your market does not. The division picture is in the NFL standings.

Six Games That Decide the Season

Miami finished third in the AFC East last year behind two teams that both went deep. The New England Patriots reached Super Bowl LX. The Buffalo Bills won a playoff game and have since changed head coach themselves.

The six division fixtures are spread awkwardly. Miami visits the New York Jets in Week 7 and hosts them five weeks later, faces Buffalo twice inside seven weeks either side of Christmas, and closes the season in Foxborough. Four of the six come after Thanksgiving.

Miami Dolphins FAQ

A defensive head coach, three new coordinators and a division containing the reigning AFC champions. The Miami Dolphins have rebuilt the coaching staff and left the hard part until the games start. Bookmark this page for scores, kickoff times and the AFC East standings.

Last updated: September 9, 2026. Fixtures and staff checked against miamidolphins.com and nfl.com.