Dolphins Hire New Defensive Coordinator After Weaver Fails to Land Head Coaching Job

Miami will promote Packers linebackers coach Sean Duggan to run the defense after Anthony Weaver was unable to secure a head coaching position elsewhere.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 2:55pm

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The Miami Dolphins have hired Packers linebackers coach Sean Duggan as their new defensive coordinator after former coordinator Anthony Weaver failed to land a head coaching job elsewhere. Weaver had been expected to leave the Dolphins, but the team waited to see if he would get hired as a head coach, which would have netted them two third-round draft picks under the Rooney Rule. However, with the remaining head coaching vacancies filled, Weaver will not be retained, and the Dolphins have opted to go in a new direction on defense.

Why it matters

The Dolphins' defense regressed in 2025 under Weaver's leadership, finishing as a bottom-10 unit in points allowed. The team was hoping Weaver could land a head coaching job to receive the Rooney Rule compensation, but with that not materializing, they have decided to make a change at defensive coordinator as they look to improve on that side of the ball.

The details

Weaver spent two seasons as the Dolphins' defensive coordinator, taking over a unit that finished 22nd in points per game allowed in 2023 and elevating them to 9th in 2024. However, the defense struggled in 2025, which Weaver attributed to the team adding players late in the offseason. With the Dolphins now hiring a new head coach in Jeff Hafley, they have decided to go in a different direction on defense, promoting Packers linebackers coach Sean Duggan to the coordinator role. Duggan has previous experience working with Hafley at Boston College and in Green Bay.

  • Weaver was the Dolphins' defensive coordinator for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
  • The Dolphins fired their previous head coach at the end of the 2025 season.
  • The Dolphins hired Jeff Hafley as their new head coach in the 2026 offseason.
  • With Weaver not landing a head coaching job, the Dolphins announced Duggan as their new defensive coordinator.

The players

Anthony Weaver

The Dolphins' defensive coordinator for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, who was expected to leave the team but did not land a head coaching job elsewhere.

Jeff Hafley

The Dolphins' new head coach, hired in the 2026 offseason after the team fired the previous head coach.

Sean Duggan

The Packers' linebackers coach who has been promoted to the Dolphins' defensive coordinator role.

Jordan Poyer

The Dolphins' starting safety who criticized the defense under Weaver, saying players did not understand the scheme.

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What they’re saying

“I didn't understand our defense. Nobody understood our defense. I can understand concepts of how an offense is trying to attack us — but if I don't know where the guy next to me knows where he's supposed to go? It's draining. It took a lot out of me. Mentally, physically, emotionally.”

— Jordan Poyer, Dolphins starting safety (Go Long Newsletter)

“We need these people to be brought together earlier than they were. A lot of the guys that we ended up playing with either got here at the start of training camp, were kind of hurt in training camp, missed some of camp, so a lot of the growth we were trying to do as a defense occurred early in the season. When you combine that with the youth movement we were trying to make, that's what's going to happen early. I think eventually it started to click for all of them in terms of what the expectation and what we were trying to get done, but we need to start to get that ball rolling earlier than August.”

— Anthony Weaver, Former Dolphins defensive coordinator (Heavy.com)

What’s next

The Dolphins will look to Duggan to improve the team's defense after it regressed in 2025 under Weaver's leadership. Duggan's familiarity with new head coach Jeff Hafley should help with the transition.

The takeaway

The Dolphins' decision to move on from Weaver as defensive coordinator highlights the importance of building cohesion and chemistry on that side of the ball, especially with a young roster. The team is hoping Duggan can provide a fresh perspective and get the defense back on track in 2026.