Jeff Hafley is hiring one of his former Ohio State colleagues away from Notre Dame as he builds out his first NFL coaching staff.
Former Ohio State linebackers coach Al Washington, who worked with Hafley at Ohio State in 2019 when Hafley was the Buckeyes’ co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach, is leaving his post as Notre Dame’s linebackers coach to be the Miami Dolphins’ linebackers coach, according to multiple reports (first reported by Football Scoop’s John Brice).
God, Country, Notre Dame pic.twitter.com/HFmsjAxh3a
— Al Washington (@CoachWash56) January 30, 2026
Washington becomes an NFL assistant for the first time after four years at Notre Dame. Washington was the Fighting Irish’s defensive line coach for the last four years, but was set to coach linebackers in 2026 after Notre Dame hired Charlie Partridge as its new defensive line coach.
Washington was previously Ohio State’s linebackers coach from 2019-21. He left for Notre Dame after Ohio State hired Jim Knowles to be its defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2022; one year later, James Laurinaitis left Notre Dame to become a graduate assistant at Ohio State, then became the Buckeyes’ linebackers coach in 2024.
Hafley became the head coach of the Miami Dolphins earlier this month after two years as the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator. Hafley’s staff will also reportedly include Sean Duggan, who was an Ohio State graduate assistant in 2019 and has worked alongside Hafley ever since, following Hafley to Boston College and the Packers.
Washington becomes the second defensive assistant to leave Notre Dame for the NFL this offseason, joining defensive backs coach Mike Mickens, who left Notre Dame to join Jesse Minter’s staff with the Baltimore Ravens.
