The Miami Dolphins have seemingly established a steady theme of coaching hires and retention: make sure that they are familiar with each other and have worked together effectively. That is why the news out of Miami over the past couple of days is so positive.
With the hire of Jeff Hafley to be their new head coach, the Dolphins then turned to the Green Bay Packers to hire important members of the staff so as to maintain that continuity for Hafley. However, someone who can end up being highly important to the Dolphins’ defensive success was hiding in plain sight: Joe Barry.
It was announced yesterday that along with D-line coach Austin Clark, that the former Packers defensive coordinator would also stay on with the team another year. The irony lies in the fact that Hafley had replaced Barry in Green Bay after Barry joined McDaniel’s staff in Miami in 2024. Now he will coach with him and perhaps be one of his top advisors on the defensive side of the ball.
Joe Barry’s Quiet Importance to Miami’s Rise
It’s important to note that under Barry, a star was born for the Dolphins defense in Jordyn Brooks. This season, Brooks earned his first ever All-Pro nod led the NFL in tackles with 183.
As the run game coordinator as well, Barry oversaw another stellar season from the Dolphins breakout star RB De’Von Achane. He had 1,358 yards on 238 carries scoring eight touchdowns, averaging 5.7 yards on the ground as well.
Barry was not the only big retention for the Dolphins’ defensive staff. Hafley was also able to keep around defensive line coach Austin Clark. Clark may be even more pivotal to the success of the team as he dealt with a hefty overhaul of players up front. In fact, three of the defensive linemen he coached last year were rookies. One of them however, Kenneth Grant, ended up finishing second on the team in pressures with 29 and third in run stops amongst all rookie defensive tackles.
Austin Clark and the Value of Institutional Memory
Clark has actually been with the team pre-dating the McDaniel era, when he was hired as the outside linebackers coach.
With this sense of continuity, the Dolphins have ended up retaining two key pieces with different kinds of history with the team. Having spent only one year under McDaniel, Barry understands how the players may have shifted their mindset about the coaching staff over the past few months. Because he knows Hafley, the transition will be that much easier.
In Clark’s case, having been with McDaniel since Day One and having coached various players, he will bring a much needed experienced voice back to the coaching staff. He also is one of the only members of Hafley’s staff to have survived the mass exodus of others from the staff.
With these retentions, not only has Miami continued to establish its new mindset, but also has established what philosophies they will choose to value going forward. With these two different coaches, they have truly set the tone.
Dolphins Retain Two Key Pieces of Coaching Staff