Dolphins Thursday evening coach update: Two sharp defensive minds interviewing
Welcome to Day 6 of the Dolphins head coaching search. Please keep checking back here for updates.
8 p.m. update: The Dolphins announced they’ve completed their virtual interview with 49ers defensive coordinator and ex-Jets coach Robert Saleh. So that’s five completed interviews for Miami’s head coaching job.
5:10 p.m. update: The Dolphins, searching for Mike McDaniel’s replacement, announced they have completed their interview with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. (See below for more on Minter.)
Earlier in the day, Minter interviewed with the Falcons. Per SI.com’s Albert Breer, he will interview with Cleveland on Friday and Pittsburgh on Saturday. He previously interviewed with Atlanta, Las Vegas and Baltimore.
49ers DC Robert Saleh’s interview with Miami is expected to extend into Thursday evening. Per Breer, he’s interviewing with the Titans and Ravens jobs on Sunday -- the day after San Francisco plays Seattle in a divisional playoff game. Arizona is interested too, and Saleh is trying to fit them in, according to Breer.
Also, Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula will be made available for interviews Friday, so that could be a window for his Dolphins interview. Rams coach Sean McVay reportedly has asked his assistants to spend the week preparing for Sunday’s playoff game at Chicago and use Friday evening to interview for head coaching jobs.
11:30 a.m.: After conducting three head coaching interviews in recent days, the Dolphins were scheduled to do two more on Thursday, with virtual visits with two of the league’s most respected defensive minds.
49ers defensive coordinator (and former Jets head coach) Robert Saleh and Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter are scheduled to speak to Dolphins officials on Thursday, a league source confirmed.
Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak (virtual interview Saturday), former Browns coach Kevin Stefanski (in-person interview Monday) and Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley (virtual interview on Wednesday) previously interviewed with Miami.
Per league rules, only Stefanski was permitted to interview with Miami in person because he’s not employed by a team at the moment. Employed NFL coaches with teams that are done playing can interview in person beginning Jan. 19.
Saleh, 46, has been asked to interview with five teams: the Dolphins, Ravens, Titans, Falcons and Cardinals. Though he went 20-36 as head coach of the Jets, Saleh is well-regarded in the league because of his acumen as a defensive coordinator and his leadership skills.
He served as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020 (before getting the Jets head coaching job) and again this season.
His 49ers defense finished this season 13th in points allowed at 21.8, despite being beset by major injuries to key players.
He has previously coached in Houston, Seattle and Jacksonville. After the Jets fired him in October 2024, he joined the Packers as a consultant, helping coach Matt LaFleur. With the Packers, he crossed paths with new Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan.
Eight teams have asked to interview Minter, who has been the Chargers’ defensive coordinator the past two seasons after serving two years in that position with the University of Michigan.
After playing receiver at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Minter began his coaching career as a defensive intern with Notre Dame in 2006, then served two seasons as a graduate assistant with the University of Cincinnati.
From there, he spent time as linebackers coach and defensive coordinator at Indiana State and served as defensive coordinator for four years at Georgia State before landing his first NFL job with the Baltimore Ravens in 2017, where he spent four seasons, including one as defensive backs coach.
Minter, 42, spent the 2021 season as Vanderbilt’s defensive coordinator, then held that same job with the Wolverines for two seasons before Jim Harbaugh hired him to be his defensive coordinator with the Chargers. When Harbaugh was suspended for Michigan’s 2023 opener against East Carolina, Minter guided the team to a win.
This season, the Chargers were fifth in yards allowed per game (285.2) and ninth in points permitted per game (20).
Minter’s father, Rick Minter, was the head football coach at the University of Cincinnati and is currently a senior defensive analyst for the Chargers. There are now eight identified candidates for the
The Dolphins also plan to speak with Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula (grandson of legendary Dolphins coach Don Shula), Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady and potentially others.
And don’t rule out LaFleur, who has one year left on his contract. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said it’s notable that the Packers and LaFleur have not agreed on a contract extension after extended talks, noting that resolution is expected one way or the other soon.
LaFleur, of course, worked with new Dolphins GM Sullivan in Green Bay.
Per a source, the Dolphins are having seven people participate in interviews from their end: owner Stephen Ross, Sullivan, team president Tom Garfinkel, senior vice president/football and business administration Brandon Shore, Dolphins executive and Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, Hall of Fame quarterback and ESPN analyst Troy Aikman (a Dolphins’ consultant/advisor in their coach and GM search) and Dan Sillman (Ross’ son-in-law and the CEO of Ross-owned Relevent, a commercial rights organization that buys/sells/activates media licensing rights).
This story was originally published January 15, 2026 at 11:46 AM.
