Vic Fangio spent the 2023 season as defensive coordinator of the Dolphins, but his tenure there was short-lived. After only a single season in Miami, the veteran coach quickly worked out a deal to take over the Eagles’ DC position.
The Dolphins intended to keep Fangio in place for at least 2024, but his coaching style was not well-received by everyone in the organization. Conversations with head coach Mike McDaniel made it clear a parting of ways would be mutually beneficial, paving the way for his Philadelphia hire. When speaking to the media on Thursday, Fangio made it clear he intends to close out his career in his current capacity.
“It was exactly 40 years ago when I started my pro coaching career across the street at Veterans Stadium, and I thought it’d be cool to hopefully end it here,” the 65-year-old said (via Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith). “So 40 years later, here I am. It was a thrill for me to go to work at Veterans Stadium 40 years ago because I used to go to games there all the time, and now it’s a thrill to come back 40 years later and hopefully finish it out here.”
Fangio — a native of Dunmore, Pennsylvania — started out as a coach with the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars. That was followed two years later by a linebackers coaching gig with the Saints, something which set up a long tenure of DC roles. Fangio had been a coordinator with the Panthers, Colts, Texans, 49ers and Bears prior to his one-and-done in Miami. That, in turn, was preceded by his only head coaching opportunity (with the Broncos) and a consultant stint in Philadelphia in 2022.
When asked about the timing of his return to the Eagles, Fangio confirmed (via Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer) he likely would have been in his current posting one year ago had the timing of the Eagles’ and Dolphins’ DC postings been different. After bringing in Sean Desai as their Jonathan Gannon replacement, Philadelphia struggled on defense in 2023. That led to Matt Patricia taking over as play-caller midway through the season, one in which the team collapsed down the stretch and bowed out in the wild-card round.
Fangio will be tasked with overseeing a rebound on that side of the ball. The Eagles have paid plenty of attention to their secondary both in free agency and the draft, and the unit has plenty of potential to take a step forward this season. Fangio admitted nothing is certain in the coaching ranks, and a failure to meet expectations could of course change his plans. If he has his way, however, this latest coordinator opportunity will represent the final chapter of his time spent on the sidelines in the NFL.
