Miami Dolphins, Jeff Hafley
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New Miami Dolphins HC, former Green Bay Packers DC, Jeff Hafley
Once the new league year began, the Green Bay Packers lost a lot of their team from the 2025 season. That included their defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
As many projected, Hafley left to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, eventually bringing with him not only Jon-Eric Sullivan as general manager from Green Bay, but also free agent quarterback Malik Willis.
With that, the Dolphins have now been referred to as “Green Bay South,” a sentiment that Packers head coach Matt LaFleur agrees with.
“That’s what I say, too, they’re taking everybody. What are they doing?” LaFleur said, per the Sun-Sentinel’s David Furones.
That doesn’t seem to bother Hafley, though, who, when speaking to Up & Adam’s Kay Adams, talked about his respect for LaFleur — while also taking a subtle shot at Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson in the process.
Jeff Hafley Addresses ‘Green Bay South,’ Sends Message on Matt LaFleur
Hafley didn’t shy away from the “Green Bay South” label.
“Yeah, I’m good with that,” Hafley told Adams. “If that’s what he wants to call it, he can call it ‘Packers South.’”
The Dolphins are set to play the Packers at Lambeau Field in 2026, though the date hasn’t been announced just yet. Hafley said “it will be fun” going back.
But when asked if there was any tension between him and LaFleur, Hafley made it clear where things stand.
“There’s no feisty with me and Matt,” Hafley said. “On game day it will be.”
“I enjoyed my time with him. He’s a great coach and he’s a great friend and great person. But yeah, when we go to Lambeau, I’m not interested in any of that. I’ll shake his hand and give him a hug after the game — it’s not going to be one of those.”
Packers-Bears Handshake Tension With Matt LaFleur Drew Attention Last Season
That last part wasn’t random.
It comes after what played out last season between the Packers and Bears, when Ben Johnson took over in Chicago and immediately leaned into the rivalry.
In their three matchups, the Packers took the first game at Lambeau Field, 28-21, but lost the next two at Soldier Field — including a Wild Card matchup.
But what stood out just as much as the games themselves were the postgame interactions between Johnson and LaFleur.
Each handshake between the two head coaches was short, tense and noticeably cold. There was little conversation, and the exchanges became more awkward with each meeting.
Johnson made it clear after the season there was no relationship between the two.
“No, we don’t talk,” Johnson said. “I’m good with it.”
That tension — both on and off the field — helped fuel the rivalry even more, especially after Chicago snapped its long losing streak against Green Bay and ended up booting them out of the playoffs.
And that’s exactly what Hafley was getting at.
His approach won’t be like that.
Where the Packers-Bears rivalry leaned into the hostility last season, Hafley is making it clear his matchup with LaFleur will stay competitive — but not personal.