As the Miami Dolphins continue to stockpile names of potential candidates for their head coaching position, some of then get more and more familiar. None more so than current Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile.
Yesterday, the Dolphins requested an interview with Campanile. The reason for the Dolphins’ familiarity with Campanile is that he used to be the linebackers coach for the team from 2020-2023.
Campanile has become the 10th candidate the Dolphins have requested an interview for in what is becoming a highly intense search. Names that have emerged recently include former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, former Jets head coach and current 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, and current Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
The Dolphins have already held interviews with both Kubiak over Zoom and Stefanski in person. They have also met with Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley yesterday afternoon.
A Familiar Face in a Crowded Coaching Search
Campanile just recently finished his first year in Jacksonville after spending 2024 with the Packers as both their linebackers coach and run game coordinator. During this time, he crossed paths with the new Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, breeding some sense of familiarity.
Before that however, Campanile was in fact working for the Dolphins, and actually interviewed for their defensive coordinator job after Fangio left, but the job went to Anthony Weaver instead.
In his lone year with Jacksonville however, Campanile led them to become a top 15 defense in the league, as they finished 11th in total yards allowed and eighth in fewest points allowed as well. These were major improvements form the year prior, where they ranked 31ist and 27th respectively in the same stats.
They also held opponents to 10 points or less five times, three of which came against playoff opponents.
Despite their success, only one player on the Jaguars defense was acknowledged as an All-Pro-linebacker Devin Lloyd.
Experience Questions and Other Familiar Candidates
Some Dolphins fans may also know Campanile from his iconic speech on the midseason edition of the show “Hard Knocks” when he was still with the team. During this speech, he famously said the line, “All over the world they speak whoop-ass.”
One of the only factors going against a guy like Campanile is that he has never had coaching experience at any level. He also is not the only former Dolphins assistant to be in the race for the position either.
Both Patrick Graham and Kelvin Sheppard are considered candidates for the job and Graham has already interviewed for the position. Graham was initially the defensive coordinator for the Dolphins in 2019 before his current stint with the Raiders, where he has spent the past four seasons. Kelvin Sheppard’s time with the team came as a player, where he had the best season of his career in 2015.
Whether or not the Dolphins will go back to their roots so to speak remains to be seen. However, as certain candidates start to leave the table, perhaps the Dolphins will be left without a choice but to really analyze their former proteges.
Dolphins Interview Former Linebackers Coach in HC Search