The Miami Dolphins are promoting passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik to offensive coordinator, a person familiar with the move told The Associated Press on Saturday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the move, which was first reported by ESPN.com.
It is the second hiring for new coach Jeff Hafley, since taking over on Monday in replacing Mike McDaniel. On Friday, Hafley brought in former Buffalo Bills special teams coordinator Chris Tabor for the same role in Miami.
Hafley and Slowik previously worked together in 2017 and ’18 on Kyle Shanahan’s staff with the San Francisco 49ers. Hafley was hired by Miami after two seasons as the Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator.
The 38-year-old Slowik completed his first year in Miami, and joined the Dolphins after two seasons as the Houston Texans offensive coordinator. He has 12 years of NFL coaching experience, and began as a defensive assistant with Washington in 2011.
He replaces Frank Smith, who spent the previous four seasons as the Dolphins offensive coordinator — though McDaniel played a key role in calling plays.
Slowik takes over a unit that could well be in transition with receiver Tyreek Hill’s future with the team uncertain, and questions over whether the Dolphins will move on from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa this offseason.
Miami’s defensive staff could be in flux under Hafley, and with coordinator Anthony Weaver in the mix for several head coaching vacancies. Weaver interviewed with the Bills on Saturday in their search to replace Sean McDermott, who was fired on Monday.
Miami’s front office has also undergone a change with Jon-Eric Sullivan taking over as general manager to replace Chris Grier, who was fired in October.
AP Sports Writer Alanis Thames contributed from Miami Gardens, Florida.
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FILE - Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik reacts during the fourth quarter of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Jan. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker, File)
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two Democrats vying to be Iowa's next U.S. senator are scheduled to debate Thursday, as each seeks to convince voters he's better positioned to flip the Republican-held seat in a contest that has seen heavy outside spending and high-profile endorsements.
State lawmakers Zach Wahls and Josh Turek are competing in a June 2 primary. It is one of a few remaining competitive Democratic Senate primaries this year, as the party looks to find the best approach to reclaim the U.S. Senate this fall.
Iowa’s Republican Sen. Joni Ernst opted out of a reelection bid, leaving the seat open for the first time since she replaced retiring Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin in 2014. Republican Senate leaders have backed Ashley Hinson, a congresswoman representing northeast Iowa, committing $29 million for her to help keep their thin majority.
Democrats see an opportunity to flip seats in the once-competitive state, despite President Donald Trump’s double-digit win in the last presidential election and an all-Republican federal delegation. But first they need to settle which federal candidate will be at the top of the ticket. Early voting began Wednesday.
While Wahls and Turek have raised and spent similar amounts, a Democratic political organization, VoteVets, has spent about $7 million to support Turek in the final stretch of the campaign. That's more than the two candidates have spent combined.
Turek, who is not a veteran, was born with spina bifida after his father’s exposure to chemicals while serving in the Vietnam War. The group has said Turek is uniquely positioned to advocate for veterans’ services, especially health care and military families.
Wahls has criticized the influx of cash as insiders in Washington trying to exert outsized influence, and it's likely to come up again Thursday, as it did at an Iowa Press debate last week.
Wahls has been vocal about who should — or should not — lead Senate Democrats, saying he would not vote for Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York to be the caucus leader.
“The leadership of Chuck Schumer has failed the Democratic Party, it has failed the state and it has failed this country,” Wahls said during last week's debate. “Dark money has an agenda, and that agenda is to protect the broken status quo and the failed leadership of Sen. Schumer.”
Schumer has tried to keep the focus on Republicans.
Wahls is endorsed by U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who joined him in Iowa for campaign events over the weekend. The progressive senator told voters the Senate needs Democrats who are willing to “get in there and stand up and fight.” Wahls also often highlights the support he's seen from unions and local elected officials.
Turek responded to Wahls' criticism saying he's not a “DC insider."
“I don't know these folks," he said. Turek explained his criteria for leader candidates but stopped short of saying he wouldn’t support Schumer.
“I will go up and ask whoever is deciding to run for leadership ... ‘What are you going to do for Iowa? What are you going to do for Iowans? What are you going to do for the middle class?’” Turek said.
In the last week, Turek unveiled a rare endorsement from Harkin, who represented Iowa in Washington for three decades, as well as former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Turek also has collected endorsements from sitting U.S. senators, including Illinois' Tammy Duckworth, New Hampshire's Maggie Hassan and Nevada's Catherine Cortez Masto.
In the first debate last week, Turek and Wahls were aligned on many issues. Both said that they would not support the Republican president’s tariffs or the war in Iran and that they do support raising the minimum wage and restoring health care access with a public insurance option. They criticized corruption in Washington and proposed higher taxes on corporations and wealthy Americans.
But they also started to draw some contrasts. More of that is likely Thursday.
Wahls referenced a law Turek supported in the Iowa legislature that makes it a state crime to be in the U.S. illegally. Turek defended his vote, saying it was Biden-era legislation and stressed the importance of a secure U.S.-Mexico border. Turek said he also supports an easier path to citizenship and reforms to immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
Turek highlighted his working-class background and contrasted his work for a nonprofit with Wahls’ work for a political organization focused on electing young Democrats.
Follow the AP’s coverage of the 2026 election at https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/.
This combination of file photos shows Iowa State Sen. and candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate Zach Wahls speaking in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Sept, 11, 2025, left, and Iowa state Rep. Josh Turek speaking in Des Moines, Iowa, April 8, 2026, right. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette via AP, File)
