Ex-Broncos HC Vic Fangio Out in Miami, Expected to Land with Eagles
Former Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio is one-and-done in Miami.
Fangio, who spent the 2023 season as the Dolphins' defensive coordinator, "mutually agreed to part ways" with the organization, the team announced Wednesday.
"I want to thank Vic for his contributions in 2023," Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel said in a statement. "When we assessed the season, it became apparent that this was the best path forward for all parties involved. Now we turn our focus to 2024 and beyond with urgency as we identify the best candidate to lead our defense moving forward. We remain steadfastly committed to the development of our players and to building a winning team with sustained success."
Fangio won't be unemployed for long, nor will he seek a return to the Mile High City. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the 65-year-old assistant is expected to sign on to become the Philadelphia Eagles' new defensive boss — a much-awaited homecoming for the Pennsylvania native.
"Miami is allowing Fangio to leave to be closer to his family in Pennsylvania," noted Schefter. "Fangio and the Eagles had an interest in working together in 2023, but the timing didn’t work. This time it will."
The Broncos' head man from 2019-2021, Fangio accumulated a 19-30 record in Denver. His tenure was a mixed bag, marked by solid defensive play but hampered by poor offensive production, which ultimately contributed to his dismissal.
“He put his heart and soul into this job,” former Broncos CEO Joe Ellis said upon Fangio's firing. “I’ve never seen a coach work harder. At the end of the day, we’re judged on one thing, and that’s winning.”
After taking the 2022 season off, save for a consulting position with the Eagles, the Dolphins last January reportedly made Fangio the league's highest-paid defensive coordinator on a three-year deal that included a fourth-year club option.
But not before then-new Broncos HC Sean Payton came calling.
"Do I think he would have been a great asset for us? Yes," Payton revealed to reporters at last year's NFL Scouting Combine. "So we were planning in this year away that if the rights scenario came up, that we'd work together. I think this one was just a little unique because it wasn't too long ago that he was here. Certainly, I tried to talk to him and tried to twist his arm. I'm excited for his opportunity in Miami."
Payton eventually hired another ex-Broncos coach, Vance Joseph, as DC. Joseph's unit finished 30th against the run, 29th in total yards allowed, and 27th in points allowed — the latter metric heavily influenced by Denver's 70-20 loss to Fangio and the Dolphins in Week 3.
Miami, meanwhile, ranked seventh, 10th, and 22nd in those respective categories, earning an 11-6 mark and a Wild Card playoff berth. The Dolphins were defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs, 26-7, in the opening postseason round — as were the Eagles, 32-9, at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Now, their paths will officially cross.
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