The Dolphins interviewed three coaches in person on Monday, including Patrick Graham

Josina Anderson reported last week that the Raiders DC Patrick Graham he would personally interview with the Dolphins for their head coaching vacancy on Monday.

That makes three candidates come to Miami tomorrow for interviews, and other reports show the Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard and the Packers DC Jeff Hafley they will be successful.

Monday is a big day because it’s the first day that coaches who were still employed by other teams can negotiate in person. Teams must interview at least two people from outside the organization in person to satisfy the Rooney Rule and be allowed to hire a head coach.

Sheppard and Graham will both fulfill Rooney’s Law. Some reports have indicated that Hafley is at the top of the Dolphins’ minds for their cap space, and with his interview schedule taking him to Tennessee on Tuesday, there will be an urgency to get a deal done and not let him go.

Graham, 46, began his coaching career at Wagner as a graduate assistant back in 2002. He later spent three years in Richmond before landing his first NFL coaching job with the Patriots in 2009 as an assistant defensive backs coach.

After seven years in New England, the Giants hired Graham as their defensive line coach in 2016. Graham joined the Packers the following year as their LBs coach and running game coordinator before taking the Dolphins defensive coordinator job in 2019.

From there, the Giants hired Graham as their defensive coordinator for the 2020 season.

The Raiders hired Graham for the same position back in 2022.

In 2025, the Raiders ranked No. 25 in driving and No.

Sheppard, 37, was a third-round pick of the Bills back in 2011. He spent two years in Buffalo before being traded to the Colts for a DE back. Jerry Hughes.

Sheppard spent over a year in Indianapolis before being waived early in the 2014 season before signing with the Dolphins at the start of the 2014 season. Sheppard had brief stints with the Giants and Bears before returning to New York.

He ended his career with the Lions in 2018 and became their OLB coach in 2021. He also served as director of player development at his alma mater LSU in 2020.

From there, the Lions hired Sheppard as their outside linebackers coach in 2021. He worked differently and was promoted to coach of the defenders in 2022. From there, he became the team’s defensive coordinator in 2025.

In his career, Sheppard appeared in 107 games and recorded 429 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions and 11 passes defensed.

Hafley, 46, began his coaching career at WPI back in 2011. From there, he worked for Albany, Pittsburgh, and Rutgers before taking his first NFL coaching job with the Buccaneers as their assistant defensive backs coach.

Hafley had stints with the Browns and the 49ers before becoming Ohio State’s defensive coordinator in 2019. Boston College hired him as their head coach the following year, and he held the position until Green Bay hired him as their defensive coordinator prior to the 2024 season. He finished with a 22-26 record at BC.

In 2025, the Packers defense ranks No. 12 in fewest yards allowed, No. 11 in fewest points allowed, No. 18 in fewest rushing yards allowed, and No. 11 in fewest passing yards allowed.

We’ll have more on the Dolphins’ HC search as news becomes available.