INDIANAPOLIS — Kevin Patullo was a hot name in NFL coaching circles when he was promoted to offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles last season.
Some around the league may be unhappy with him after a terrible year. But when Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley gave him the chance to interview, he knew he wanted him on the original coaching staff.
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“When I interviewed him, I was blown away,” Hafley said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine press conference. “The knowledge he has, the football experience he has, what he’s done for the entire organization — don’t forget he won a Super Bowl.”
Before Patullo’s lone year leading the Eagles offense in 2025, he served as the Eagles’ passing game coordinator from 2021 to 2024, adding the associate head coach title to his title in 2023. He helped make quarterback Jalen Hurts a Super Bowl champion, and while he was adept at using his legs to lead Philadelphia’s offense, Hurts was allowed to grow and throw the ball to wide receiver A.J. Brown and running backs Devonta Smith, Saquon Barkley and tight end Dallas Goedert.
Hafley has promoted Bobby Slovik, who runs the offense, to offensive coordinator, realizing he needs Patullo under him to help with the passing game, which could change next season.
“Behind the scenes, what he’s done on offense and with the team as a whole, hearing him talk about his football knowledge, not just offense, but about game management, about situational football,” Hafley continued, “I got off Zoom and I said to Bobby, ‘We’ve got to try to hire this guy’ – he’s got other opportunities and other options. I think he’s going to be a huge asset to what we do, and I think it’s often unfair to judge anybody based on a single guy this year.”
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Slovik and Patullo share a history of rising quickly after reaching the offensive coordinator level only to struggle during down seasons.
Last offseason, Slovik was named senior passing game coordinator, an additional position created for him under head coach Mike McDaniel. Now, Slovik has been promoted to offensive coordinator under a new head coach. Meanwhile, Pattullo serves as passing game coordinator this year.
Key Front Desk Manager
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As new general manager Jon Eric Sullivan enters his first offseason of roster construction with the Dolphins, a few of his key players are assistant general manager Kyle Smith and new senior personnel director Jon Robinson. NFL Network revealed news of the latter hiring Monday night.
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Robinson served as the general manager of the Tennessee Titans from 2016 to 2022. Smith served as the Atlanta Falcons’ assistant general manager for the past three seasons before they fired former general manager Terry Fontenot.
“I’m the current general manager, Jon Robinson has been the general manager, and I think Kyle Smith is going to be the general manager,” Sullivan told a small group of South Florida media members at the combine on Tuesday before taking the podium. “I think they’ve been extraordinary sounding boards for me.
“First and foremost, they are very good people, but more importantly, they are forward thinkers who have a way of doing things that are not here to tell me what they think the boss wants to hear. They will give me their thoughts and opinions, which will help me move forward if I need to. They are both very good at what they do. They bring a lot to the table.”
The addition of Robinson will especially help Sullivan lead the team’s roster management for the first time after more than two decades with the Green Bay Packers in various positions.
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“Jon Robinson sits in this chair. He knows what’s coming. He understands the pitfalls and the obstacles,” Sullivan said. “So I’d be a fool if I didn’t rely on him.”
Smith is the son of AJ Smith, who served as the general manager of the San Diego Chargers from 2003 to 2012.
“Kyle grew up around this. He’s the son of a long-time general manager,” Sullivan said. “He’s very good at what he does. I’m really happy to have these guys around me as we move forward.”
