Dolphins meet with Stefanski, book interviews with three; Harbaugh plots plans
The Dolphins’ ongoing coaching search took another turn on Tuesday, when Miami interviewed former Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, requested interviews with two defensive coordinators and watched John Harbaugh book interviews elsewhere.
In the backdrop was Mike Tomlin’s surprising decision to leave the Steelers after 19 years as head coach. But Tomlin will not coach next season and likely will take a job in television, ESPN reported.
While a source close to Harbaugh wouldn’t entirely rule out Miami, his focus at this time is elsewhere, from all indications. NFL Network reported that he is expected to meet with the Giants, Falcons and Titans in the coming days and that those teams have “the inside track” to landing him.
The Dolphins have had contact with Harbaugh’s camp and made their interest clear.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins on Tuesday had an in-person interview with Stefanski, a two-time NFL coach of the year, a league source confirmed. Miami also requested interviews with Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.
The 43-year-old Stefanski, who was previously identified as a candidate for the Dolphins job, was fired by the Browns last week after going 45-56 in six seasons. He had two 11 win seasons and took the Browns to the postseason twice and won a playoff game in Pittsburgh.
Considered a smart offensive mind, Stefanski was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2020 and 2023. In the past week, he also has interviewed with the Giants, Titans, Falcons and Raiders.
“He’s a great football coach, and I think he’ll get a chance somewhere and show that he can still coach in this league,” Browns guard Joel Bitonio told Browns reporters last week.
No coach lasted as long as Stefanski’s six seasons in Cleveland since Sam Rutigliano, who coached from 1978-1984. Before the Browns hired him as head coach, he spent 14 years with the Vikings, including one season as offensive coordinator.
Stefanski, a former defensive back at the University of Pennsylvania, called the Browns’ plays on offense for much of his tenure in Cleveland except for two brief periods (the final half of the 2024 season, when Ken Dorsey handled that; and the close of the 2025 season, when Tommy Rees had that responsibility.)
The Browns had 13 different starting quarterbacks in his six seasons there.
“There really isn’t a better person; he’s the best of us,” Browns GM Andrew Berry said in announcing his dismissal after a 5-12 season.
Keep in mind that no coach currently employed by any NFL team (whether they’re in the playoffs or not) can interview in person until Jan. 19, and coaches whose teams are in the playoffs can interview only virtually until their seasons end (or the bye week, in the case of the teams in the Super Bowl).
So that would leave Stefanski, Harbaugh and Mike McCarthy as coaches who can interview in person with Miami. It’s unclear if Miami will book one with McCarthy.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins will have virtual interview sessions with Graham (who has been a defensive coordinator the past seven season) and Minter, who was Chargers’ defensive coordinator the past two seasons.
Eight teams have asked to interview Minter, whose Chargers defense was fifth in yards allowed per game (285.2) and ninth in points permitted per game (20). Jim Harbaugh brought him to the Chargers have Minter was defensive coordinator for two years under Harbaugh at Michigan.
Graham was the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator under Brian Flores in 2019 and held that job for the Giants in 2020 and 2021 and the Raiders since 2022.
There are now nine identified candidates for the Dolphins head coaching job: Harbaugh, Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak (who interviewed with Miami on Saturday), Stefanski, 49ers defensive coordinator and former Jets head coach Robert Saleh, Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula (grandson of legendary Dolphins coach Don Shula), Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Lions defensive coordinator Sheppard, Graham and Minter.
And don’t rule out Packers coach Matt 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 general manager Jon-Eric 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).
