Vic Fangio chooses to join Dolphins as defensive coordinator after speaking with other teams, per report
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Vic Fangio is back as defensive coordinator in the NFL, deciding to accept the offer from the Miami Dolphins after discussing the position with several other teams, according to ESPN. Fangio, the defensive mastermind whose defensive scheme and formations several teams use to compete in the modern NFL, currently works as a consultant for the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles.
CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones first announced that Fangio would choose Miami’s offer ahead of the NFC Championship Game. NFL Media reported that Fangio agreed to terms on a three-year contract that includes a fourth-year team option. This deal would make Fangio the highest-paid coordinator in the NFL. Fangio told 9 News in Denver that a deal hasn’t been finalized because he’s still talking to multiple teams.
Fangio was recently interviewed for vacancies with the Falcons and Panthers, but will now be Mike McDaniel’s chief assistant in Miami. This is Fangio’s fifth different defensive coordinator position at the NFL level.
When McDaniel was hired last offseason, the freshman coach notably retained Josh Boyer, who served as DC under Brian Flores starting in 2020. But the Dolphins’ defense ranked among the worst in the league against the pass (27th) and average points conceded per game. (24th) in a 9-8 final this season. Boyer’s unit finished 16th in points allowed per game the previous year, regressing from a promising start to 2020 that saw Miami edge closer to the top five in that category.
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Fangio, meanwhile, has extensive experience leading the top 10 defenses in more than 30 years as an NFL coach. Despite going 19-30 as Denver’s head coach from 2019 to 2021, he maintained a miserly Broncos defense during that span. In 2022, consulting on Jonathan Gannon’s Eagles defense, he helped oversee Philadelphia’s top-rated pass defense. The Eagles also have 78 sacks on the season, the third most by any team in NFL history.
Fangio is also well known for his previous stops as a coordinator, including with the Bears (2015-2018) and 49ers (2011-2014).