Meet Sully and Haf: New GM, coach lay out vision for Dolphins
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Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan, left, and head coach Jeff Hafley. Photo: Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Miami Dolphins introduced their new general manager and head coach to South Florida on Thursday, two hires that owner Stephen Ross hopes will usher in a "new beginning" for the team amid fan frustration.
Why it matters: General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley, who both come from the Green Bay Packers, will look to rebuild a storied Dolphins franchise that hasn't won a playoff game in over 25 years.
- "We're chasing championships, it's as simple as that," Sullivan said.
- "When we get to the end of this thing and we hoist that trophy, we will realize that we started at the bottom, we fought our way to the top and it will be one of the more special moments of all of our lives. I have no doubt that we will get there."
Here's what we learned during their introductory press conference:
Meet Sully and Haf: Sullivan and Hafley are starting to feel at home in Miami.
- They encouraged reporters to refer to them by their nicknames and became emotional when thanking their families for supporting them.
- Sullivan, the former vice president of player personnel in Green Bay and ex-director of college scouting, had been with the Packers since 2003. He is a first-time general manager.
- Hafley, a first-time NFL head coach, was the Packers' defensive coordinator for two seasons. He was previously the head coach at Boston College and held defensive coaching roles in the NFL and college.
QB is key: After quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was benched for Quinn Ewers last season, Sullivan told reporters that the future of the position is a "huge question looming over the organization."
- Sullivan said the team "will find our guy," whether that's Tagovailoa, Ewers or "somebody that's not in the building."
- He said he wants to make sure the next starting quarterback has a strong team around him, "so that when we do find our guy, he can go be successful."
Sullivan said he will follow Green Bay's philosophy of having as many talented quarterbacks as possible on the team.
- That's what Green Bay did, drafting Aaron Rodgers when Brett Favre was still playing, and drafting Jordan Love when Rodgers was still playing.
- "We will draft quarterbacks every year if not every other year because I think you have to."
Vision for the team: Sullivan said Miami will build its team primarily through the draft and develop young talent to cultivate a strong culture and keep salaries manageable.
- Hafley, who will call plays on defense, said his foundations for success will be belief, trust and toughness.
- He said the turnaround would require time and hard work, but he wants to build the team "the right way."
- "I cannot wait to get started."