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Eagles DC Vic Fangio Will Return For 2026 Season

By | at February 4, 2026 10:33 pm

After considering retirement for the second offseason in a row, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is expected to return to his post in 2026, per Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Fangio, 67, has been an NFL coach since 1986 (outside of one season as Stanford’s defensive coordinator in 2010). He finally won a Super Bowl last year – his first season in Philadelphia – and contemplated going out on top. Instead, he returned for the 2025 season and oversaw some regression, though his defense was still stronger than Kevin Patullo‘s offense.

The Eagles will be hoping Fangio’s unit can return to dominance in 2026, but keeping him in the building is already a major success. The organization has not had a smooth offseason thus far, as their search to replace Patullo did not go as planned. There did not seem to be as much interest in the job as one would expect for a star-studded offense still only a year removed from a Super Bowl win. Multiple candidates withdrew from consideration, and it even seemed like Brian Daboll was more interested in working with Cam Ward in Tennessee than reuniting with Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia after their first stint together at Alabama.

The Eagles eventually landed on Sean Mannion for their OC job. He has just two years of coaching experience, which will likely bring head coach Nick Sirianni into a bigger role in the offense. That made keeping Fangio even more important. This late in the hiring cycle, it would be almost impossible for the Eagles to find a worthy replacement.

They will not have to worry about such a task, for now. But Fangio’s retirement is clearly approaching, and his will not be easy shoes to fill.

2 comments Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles DC Vic Fangio Expected To Return In 2026

By | at February 2, 2026 4:53 pm

FEBRUARY 2: Fangio did indeed “seriously entertain” retirement in recent days, but PHLY Sports’ EJ Smith reports the Eagles are now “confident” he will remain in place for at least one more year. A third season with Philadelphia as the team’s D-coordinator can be expected.

FEBRUARY 1: The Eagles have already made a change at offensive coordinator this year, hiring Sean Mannion to replace the demoted Kevin Patullo. It is unclear whether the club will also be in search of a new defensive coordinator.

During a recent appearance on The Anthony Gargano Show, Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network said he has not heard that DC Vic Fangio is retiring, nor has he heard that Fangio will return (video link). He added that he would not be surprised either way. 

According to Garafolo, during the Eagles’ Super Bowl party last year, Fangio told his fellow attendees that he appreciated working with them and suggested he was going to end his career on a high note with a Super Bowl ring. And then he elected to continue working. 

It sounds as if something similar transpired this year. Citing multiple sources, Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com says Fangio told the team he was retiring, only to be convinced to come back for at least one more season. That said, a team spokesperson declined to confirm that Fangio would remain in place in 2026.

Following up on Kempski’s report, Garafolo reiterates that while Fangio appears to be leaning towards returning at the moment, that could still change. Dianna Russini of The Athletic also heard that Fangio waffled a bit in 2025, but a team source told her that “we’ll convince him to stay” in 2026.

It is not difficult to see why the Eagles want Fangio to return. One of the most respected and influential defensive minds in the game, Fangio joined Philadelphia in his current capacity in 2024, after a collapse on the defensive side of the ball torpedoed the club’s chances of a deep postseason run the year prior. A concerted effort to address deficiencies in the secondary certainly helped, but after the Eagles finished 26th in total defense and 30th in scoring defense in 2023, they finished first and second, respectively, in those areas in 2024. They went on to capture the second Super Bowl title in franchise history.

Although Fangio’s unit regressed a bit in 2025, its performance was still respectable (13th in total defense, fifth in scoring defense). This time, it was the Patullo-directed offense that undermined Philadelphia’s championship aspirations.

Additionally, with a rookie play-caller in the offensive coordinator seat, it stands to reason that head coach Nick Sirianni wants some stability and experience among his top lieutenants. It does appear the Eagles have been formulating a backup plan just in case Fangio decides to call it quits.

According to Kempski, Philadelphia reached out to former defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, whose success in that role over the 2021-22 campaigns helped him become the Cardinals’ head coach in 2023. Arizona cut ties with him last month, and he subsequently accepted the Packers’ DC position.

Philly was also planning to contact Jim Schwartz, per Kempski. Schwartz was the Eagles’ defensive coordinator when they won their first Super Bowl title at the end of the 2017 season. After being passed over for the Browns’ head coaching job in this year’s cycle, Schwartz reportedly wants out of Cleveland, where he has worked as the DC since 2023.

Now 67, Fangio previously said he wants to finish his coaching career as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator. It is too soon to say whether that time has already come. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer says Fangio has not responded to questions about his future since the 2025 season came to an end.

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Dolphins’ Jaelan Phillips More Valuable Than Bradley Chubb?

By | at October 24, 2025 4:18 pm

After a 1-6 start to the season, the Dolphins are expected to be sellers at this year’s trade deadline.

No position has a hotter market than edge rusher, and Miami has two that could be moved: Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb. Teams are interested in both players, and a recent report suggests that the team is more likely to deal them than wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. The Eagles are thought to be pursuing an edge rusher, and both Phillips and Chubb spent time under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, according to Zach Berman of The Athletic.

Phillips is believed to have more value, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The 2021 first-rounder was an ascending player before season-ending injuries in 2023 and 2024, and he appears to be back this season. He only has two sacks and two tackles for loss in seven games, but underlying metrics from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) indicate a stronger performance. Phillips leads the Dolphins with 22 pressures and a 18.2% pass rush win rate. The latter statistic, along with his 15.5% pressure rate, are the best marks of his career; his closest season was his breakout campaign in 2022.

Chubb has four sacks and five tackles for loss with a similar snap share to Phillips. His performance is a solid return after tearing his ACL in 2024 with a pace that is slightly behind his 11.0-sack, 11-TFL 2023. However, his 15 pressures and 10.5 pass rush win rate (via PFF) indicate a less consistent ability to get to the passer relative to his younger teammate.

Both players could have value to other teams in the long-term, too. Phillips could be an extension candidate for his new team, making him more valuable. However, he could could also net Miami a 2027 compensatory pick if he leaves in free agency next spring. The Dolphins are currently projected to be over the 2026 cap with only 34 players under contract, per OverTheCap, so they may not have enough space to offer Phillips a competitive extension. Given the difficult in predicting the compensatory pick distribution every year, Miami might want to get what they can right now.

Chubb, meanwhile, is due $39.5MM in 2026 and 2027 with no guarantees. If his production so far this year continues, he may be worth more to another team at that price than he is to the Dolphins with cap hits over $31MM in those years. If Miami is planning to part ways with him this offseason anyway, they may want to take advantage of his hot start and move him now rather than risk his value dropping in the offseason.

Despite the interest in their edge rushers, the Dolphins seem hesitant to engage in trade talks with general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel both uncertain of their job security, according FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano. Reports have generally indicated that both are safe, but the Dolphins’ losing ways could force a change eventually.

Either way, Miami should be considering trade offers for both Phillips and Chubbs. It’s unlikely that either can take their performance to a level that would change the team’s fortunes this season, and the Dolphins probably need more draft capital for cheap talent more than veteran edge rushers on expensive contracts.

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AFC East Rumors: Hall, Dolphins, Jones

By | at July 3, 2024 9:56 pm

Jets running back Breece Hall is now two seasons into his NFL career, and the former second-round pick out of Iowa State still doesn’t believe his full potential has been put on display as a pro. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Hall has put a rookie-year ACL tear in the past and is looking forward to the 2024 NFL season.

Hall hit the ground running as a rookie in New York. Despite coming off the bench in his first five games before finally starting games 6 and 7, Hall was able to rack up 463 rushing yards, 218 receiving yards, and five touchdowns (four rushing, one receiving). His tremendous rookie campaign was cut short by the ACL and meniscus tears, and though he came back to play all 17 games in 2023, he failed to show that same promise. Last year, in 16 starts, Hall managed 994 rushing yards, 591 receiving yards, and nine total touchdowns: not a bad season by any means, but certainly not the delivery of the promise from his rookie season.

This offseason, though, Hall gets to take a different approach. “I ended the season on a good note,” Hall told the media. “Last season, (I was) still not feeling 100 percent all the time, but now, I had my first offseason to not just be trying to get back but to get better. And I’ve gotten better this offseason. I’m a lot leaner. I feel a lot healthier My knee feels a lot better. I just feel like I’m back to my old self.”

Here are a couple other rumors from around the AFC East:

  • The Dolphins have welcomed new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, while former coordinator Vic Fangio has taken the same job in Philadelphia. In another Sports Illustrated piece, Breer underlined how a “one-voice approach” led to Fangio losing the respect of his defense in Miami. Fangio’s approach in meetings minimized the role of his position coaches, and that frustration allegedly bled through to the players who began to ignore defensive calls and freelance on the field. Weaver stands to resonate with his assistants and players better in 2024. A position coach in Baltimore for the last three years, Weaver saw his input magnified by head coach John Harbaugh, who awarded him the additional title of assistant head coach after his first season with the Ravens. Seeing his own input valued in that manner should encourage him to seek the same out of his own assistants in Miami this year.
  • As the Bills attempted to rattle off a string of wins to close the season and make the playoffs last year, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones was activated from injured reserve with two games remaining in the regular season. Jones came back from a torn pectoral muscle to finish the season with his team but was certainly not 100 percent upon his return from injury. After deciding to re-sign to return to Buffalo on a new two-year deal, Jones is reportedly feeling much better. According to Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News, Jones is back to feeling 100 percent and should return to a crucial role on the defensive line in 2024.
2 comments Buffalo Bills Miami Dolphins New York Jets

Vic Fangio Aims To Finish Career As Eagles DC

By | at May 9, 2024 1:15 pm

Vic Fangio spent the 2023 season as defensive coordinator of the Dolphins, but his tenure there proved to be 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.

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AFC East Notes: Patriots, Bills, Fangio

By | at March 29, 2024 12:56 pm

Even though the Patriots re-signed Kendrick Bourne, their failed pursuit of Calvin Ridley leaves a void at receiver. Robert Kraft certainly believes the team made a viable offer but cited an interesting reason for the former first-round pick choosing the Titans.

“It was not because of finance. Clearly, his girlfriend wanted to be in the South,” Kraft said (via the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed) of Ridley, referring to the wide receiver’s wife. “We had a situation where the taxes were, like, almost 10% higher. We offered — we were willing to keep going at that premium. But he didn’t want to be in the Northeast. And part of it might be the quarterback situation as well.”

The Pats and Jaguars were believed to be battling for Ridley, but the Titans came in with a monster offer. Tennessee gave Ridley a whopping $46.98MM guaranteed at signing — third among all wide receivers. That number will jump to $50MM if he is on Tennessee’s roster on Day 5 of the 2025 league year. The Patriots have faced criticism for their free agency route, after Jerod Mayo said the team was planning to be more aggressive. Much of the Pats’ moves have involved re-signings. The Pats have a big decision to make at No. 3 overall, and trade-down rumors are emerging. If they do draft a passer third, the WR need will be glaring — unless a rumored Pats trade effort produces a deal — on Day 2 of the draft.

Here is the latest from the AFC East:

  • Michael Onwenu joined the host of guards who received big paydays this month, but the Patriots are not planning to return him to his primary rookie-contract position. New England is planning to station Onwenu where he played much of last season. After re-signing the former sixth-round pick on a three-year, $57MM deal, the Pats are keeping him at right tackle, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Onwenu appears comfortable with this plan, per the Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi. The Pats used Onwenu at guard during the 2021 and ’22 seasons, but after injury issues at right tackle last season, Bill Belichick moved him back to that position — where he spent time during his rookie campaign. While left tackle remains an issue post-Trent Brown, the Onwenu deal solidifies the team’s RT job.
  • Bills GM Brandon Beane does not expect Micah Hyde to retire, and despite the team having re-signed Taylor Rapp and brought Mike Edwards over from the Chiefs, Hyde could remain in the picture. Beane is not ruling out a re-signing, ESPN.com’s Alaina Getzenberg notes. Hyde played out a third Bills contract and joins a few other accomplished safeties on the market — Justin Simmons, Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs among them. While GMs often indicate interest in re-signing a player at a lower rate exists, the Bills did follow through on this by bringing back Jordan Poyer at a lower cost (two years, $12.5MM) in 2023. Buffalo disbanded the Hyde-Poyer tandem by cutting the latter this month.
  • Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin has a workout scheduled with the Bills, per Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline. The No. 43 overall prospect on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, Franklin has four “30” visits scheduled as well. Working with first-round QB prospect Bo Nix, Franklin posted 1,383 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns last season. Franklin was sick during Combine week, Pauline adds, noting he weighed in seven pounds heavier (183) at his pro day.
  • Mike McDaniel confirmed the Dolphins did not have the intention of moving on from Vic Fangio after one season, but the third-year HC indicated (via ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Beasley) a few one-on-one conversations led to an understanding it would be best for the sides to part ways. Fangio quickly agreed to terms with the Eagles, which came after players heard rumblings the accomplished DC was eyeing a move back to Philadelphia during last season.
  • Bourne’s three-year, $19.5MM Patriots contract includes $5.5MM guaranteed, and KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets the veteran wide receiver can guarantee $2.5MM of his $5.5MM 2025 base salary by eclipsing 800 receiving yards this season. Bourne, who is coming off a torn ACL, has one 800-yard season in six years; he posted exacted 800 in 2021.
4 comments Buffalo Bills Miami Dolphins New England Patriots

2024 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

By | at February 9, 2024 1:10 pm

After a crowded carousel previously stopped, the 49ers opened their defensive coordinator position. Here is how the NFC champions’ search looks:

Updated 3-2-24 (10:00am CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Dave Ragone)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Ken Dorsey)

  • Joe Brady, interim offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (Bills): Hired
  • Thad Lewis, quarterbacks coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed

Carolina Panthers (Out: Thomas Brown)

  • Marcus Brady, senior offensive assistant (Eagles): Interview requested
  • Brad Idzik, wide receivers coach (Buccaneers): Hired

Chicago Bears (Out: Luke Getsy)

Cincinnati Bengals (Out: Brian Callahan)

  • Andy Dickerson, offensive line coach (Seahawks): To interview
  • Dan Pitcher, quarterbacks coach (Bengals): Promoted

Cleveland Browns (Out: Alex Van Pelt)

Las Vegas Raiders (Out: Mick Lombardi)

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Kellen Moore)

New England Patriots (Out: Bill O’Brien)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Pete Carmichael)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Brian Johnson)

  • Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interviewed
  • Kliff Kingsbury, senior offensive analyst (USC): Interviewed 1/23
  • Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Chargers): Hired

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Matt Canada)

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Shane Waldron)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Dave Canales)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Tim Kelly)

  • Nick Holz, passing game coordinator (Jaguars): Hired
  • Thad Lewis, quarterbacks coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed
  • Eric Studesville, associate head coach/running backs coach (Dolphins): Interview requested

Washington Commanders (Out: Eric Bieniemy)

  • Chip Kelly, former head coach (Eagles/49ers): On team’s radar
  • Kliff Kingsbury, senior offensive analyst (USC): Hired

Defensive Coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Ryan Nielsen)

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Mike Macdonald)

  • Zach Orr, inside linebackers coach (Ravens): Promoted

Buffalo Bills

  • Bobby Babich, linebackers coach (Bills): Promoted
  • Mike Caldwell, former defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed
  • Sean Desai, former defensive coordinator (Eagles): To interview

Chicago Bears (Out: Alan Williams)

  • Joe Barry, former defensive coordinator (Packers): To interview 1/27
  • Chris Harris, secondary coach (Titans): To interview
  • Eric Washington, assistant head coach/defensive line coach (Bills): Hired
  • Terrell Williams, assistant head coach/defensive line coach (Titans): To interview

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Dan Quinn)

Green Bay Packers (Out: Joe Barry)

Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Mike Caldwell)

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Derrick Ansley)

  • Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Hired

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Raheem Morris)

Miami Dolphins (Out: Vic Fangio)

New England Patriots

  • DeMarcus Covington, defensive line coach (Patriots): Promoted
  • Michael Hodges, linebackers coach (Saints): To interview
  • Tem Lukabu, outside linebackers coach (Panthers): To interview
  • Christian Parker, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Interviewed

New York Giants (Out: Don Martindale)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Sean Desai)

  • Mike Caldwell, former defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed
  • Vic Fangio, former defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Hired
  • Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/22

San Francisco 49ers (Out: Steve Wilks)

  • Gerald Alexander, safeties coach (Raiders): Interviewed 3/1
  • Daniel Bullocks, defensive backs coach (49ers): Interviewed 2/28
  • David Merritt, defensive backs coach (Chiefs): To interview
  • Nick Sorensen, defensive passing game specialist (49ers): Promoted
  • Brandon Staley, former head coach (Chargers): Interviewed

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Clint Hurtt)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Shane Bowen)

  • Brandon Lynch, cornerbacks coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/30
  • Dennard Wilson, defensive backs coach (Ravens): Hired

Washington Commanders (Out: Jack Del Rio)

  • Joe Cullen, defensive line coach (Chiefs): Considered a candidate
  • Joe Whitt, defensive backs coach (Cowboys): Hired
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Coaching Notes: Vrabel, Fangio, Dolphins, Eagles, Marrone, Saints, Titans, Bills

By | at February 6, 2024 4:55 pm

Seeing as Mike Vrabel went from highly regarded HC to trade candidate to bumped off this year’s carousel entirely, potential reasoning behind the ex-Titans boss’ standing is certainly relevant. Vrabel’s old-school, intimidating style may have been a factor in him not landing a job, with a GM going so far as to mention to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini this even could even extend to his physical stature. The former NFL linebacker also may have found himself pigeonholed as a slightly older candidate, even at 48, than some owners wanted, Russini offered during an appearance on The Athletic Football Show. Only Jim Harbaugh (60) and Dan Quinn (53) was older among this year’s eight HC hires. Vrabel interviewed for the Falcons, Panthers and Chargers’ jobs.

Some teams were interested in hiring Vrabel as a defensive coordinator, Russini adds, but the six-year NFL HC has not been connected to any specific coordinator jobs. With not many DC positions left, Vrabel seems likely to join Bill Belichick as coaches on the outside looking in this year. Vrabel may stand to have a better chance of landing another HC job moving forward, with Belichick set to turn 72 in April. For now, however, he is out of the league. The reports about Vrabel clashing with Titans ownership may have impacted his chances as well.

Here is the latest from the coaching ranks:

  • On the subject of coaching clashes, Vic Fangio‘s style did not appear to draw universal praise while with the Dolphins. Jalen Ramsey, Jevon Holland and rookie Cam Smith expressed issues with the veteran DC, ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Beasley notes. While praising Fangio’s old-school demands, Tyreek Hill also relayed a rumor about others indicating behind closed doors the team’s 2023 DC wanted to return to Philadelphia. Previously mentioned as rubbing some in Miami the wrong way, Fangio is indeed back with the Eagles. The Dolphins have hired ex-Ravens D-line coach Anthony Weaver to replace him.
  • Preparing to hire Klint Kubiak as offensive coordinator, the Saints will not extend Doug Marrone‘s second stint with the team into the 2024 season. In place as the Saints’ offensive line coach from 2022-23, Marrone will not be asked back, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football tweets. The Saints have veteran O-line coach John Benton as a frontrunner to fill the spot, NOLA.com’s Luke Johnson adds. Benton, 60, would be a logical hire. He worked as Gary Kubiak‘s O-line coach for eight years in Houston and was the 49ers’ O-line coach under Kyle Shanahan from 2017-20. After following Robert Saleh to New York in 2021, Benton spent this past season out of football.
  • Former Falcons assistants Steve Jackson and Frank Bush will be part of new Titans DC Dennard Wilson‘s staff, ESPN.com’s Turron Davenport tweets. A former Texans DC and interim Jets DC, Bush was on Arthur Smith‘s Falcons staff as linebackers coach for three years. This will be a return trip for Jackson, who has a history as a player and a coach with the franchise. A former Oilers cornerback, Jackson finished his career in Super Bowl XXXIV with the Titans. He later served as assistant DBs coach under Mike Mularkey in Tennessee from 2016-17. Jackson spent the past two seasons with the Falcons.
  • The Bills are moving senior defensive assistant Al Holcomb to a position coach role. The former Panthers DC will replace Bobby Babich as Buffalo’s linebackers coach, ESPN.com’s Alaina Getzenberg notes. Babich is now Buffalo’s DC. Holcomb, who worked with Sean McDermott in Carolina, joined the Bills last year. The AFC East champs are also promoting Marcus West from assistant defensive line coach to D-line coach to replace Eric Washington, who became the Bears’ DC last month.
11 comments Atlanta Falcons Buffalo Bills Miami Dolphins New Orleans Saints Philadelphia Eagles Tennessee Titans

Dolphins, Vic Fangio Part Ways; Eagles Deal Finalized

By | at January 27, 2024 2:52 pm

JANUARY 27: The Eagles have made the official announcement, marking Fangio as the team’s new defensive coordinator following the departure of Desai. Fangio will be tasked with leading a defensive unit that stumbled down the stretch in what started as a promising 2023 season. He may be forced to do it with some younger faces, as well, as some key veterans (defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, defensive end Brandon Graham, linebacker Shaquille Leonard) are facing free agency in the offseason.

JANUARY 25: Fangio is headed to Philadelphia today to finalize his defensive coordinator agreement, Schefter reports. As a result, the Eagles have one of their two coordinator vacancies filled after moving on from OC Brian Johnson. Philadelphia’s defense will be a unit to follow closely in the offseason and into the 2024 campaign.

JANUARY 24: A hotly contested Vic Fangio pursuit developed during the 2023 offseason, with an element of controversy comprising part of it. The Dolphins won out, but the parties’ union will be short-lived. The team announced Wednesday that Fangio will not return as DC.

Describing this as a mutual decision, the Dolphins are moving on from a coach whom they agreed to pay more than $4.5MM per season. Fangio had been closely tied to the Eagles’ DC job in 2023, after serving as a consultant for the team. He alluded to the Jonathan Gannon situation helping lead him out of Philly. With Fangio available again, teams will naturally be interested in the experienced defensive coach.

The Eagles are not planning to sit this one out, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler and Adam Schefter reporting a deal for Fangio to return to Philly is expected. CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson also indicates the Eagles expect Fangio to return and be their next DC.

The Dolphins are letting Fangio leave to allow him to be closer to his family, per ESPN. Fangio, 65, is a Pennsylvania native and sits as the top target for the Eagles’ DC job. The Eagles will still need to interview at least one external minority candidate to comply with the Rooney Rule, but it appears they have a clear preference as they look to replace Sean Desai.

Mike McDaniel will now be on his third DC in three years, moving from Josh Boyer to Fangio after the 2022 season. The Dolphins shelled out a deal that made Fangio the NFL’s highest-paid DC last year. Fangio had wanted to stay with the Eagles, but with the team expecting Gannon to remain in place for a third season, he left for Miami. It does not appear that proved to be a good fit, and the well-traveled coach is on track to step in as a savior of sorts for an Eagles team that completed a chaotic defensive season.

Demoting ex-Fangio lieutenant Desai for Matt Patricia late in the season, the Eagles lost six of their final seven games — including a one-sided wild-card game in Tampa. Patricia is expected to head elsewhere, perhaps rejoining Bill Belichick if the latter lands a head coaching job, but the Eagles will receive the good fortune of Fangio becoming available again. The Eagles have already interviewed Ron Rivera virtually, but it seems fairly clear Fangio is the favorite. Following Gannon’s departure for Arizona — which drew a tampering penalty from the NFL — the Philly defense cratered, finishing 29th in DVOA.

Fangio drew interest from a few places after not taking a job to start the 2022 season. The Falcons and Panthers interviewed the ex-Broncos HC, and the 49ers expressed interest in reuniting with him. Fangio also came up in Denver, as Sean Payton took over, but deemed the timing wrong. The Dolphins’ defense featured some of the same poor injury luck Fangio experienced in Denver, as his playoff unit lacked numerous starters — including edge anchors Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb — after missing Jalen Ramsey for half the season. The Dolphins held their own in the red zone in frigid Kansas City, but Miami’s offense crumbled in a one-sided matchup.

An NFL assistant since helming the Saints’ famed “Dome Patrol” linebacking corps in the 1980s and early ’90s, Fangio has received rave reviews for his work in Chicago and San Francisco. The Bears gig, which featured the team’s 2018 unit leading the league, led to the Broncos hiring him as head coach in 2019. Fangio was in place under Jim Harbaugh, helping the 49ers to three straight NFC title games from 2011-13.

Miami’s 2023 defense ranked 19th in DVOA; multiple names have already surfaced for the newly vacant job. Brandon Staley is expected to be a candidate, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Dolphins linebackers coach Anthony Campanile has generated good reviews around the league, per NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe. Campanile is also on the Giants’ DC radar.

Staley, of course, is coming off an in-season firing as Chargers HC. Staley’s Bolts defenses underwhelmed throughout his tenure, but he would make for a natural transition in Miami, having been a Fangio charge in Chicago and Denver. Staley became a promising HC candidate after spending the 2020 season as the Rams’ DC. He has yet to interview for an HC or DC job this offseason. The former Chargers leader shares an agent with McDaniel, Dianna Russini of The Athletic tweets.

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Coaching Notes: Eagles, Canales, Bucs, Falcons, Fins, Fangio, Colts, Raiders, Jags

By | at January 26, 2024 5:25 pm

Mike Caldwell will not land the Eagles‘ DC position. Vic Fangio becoming available is expected to give the Eagles the candidate they wanted last year. Recently fired from his Jaguars DC post, Caldwell will still have a chance to end up in Philly. The Eagles are interviewing him for their linebackers coach position, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Caldwell has a history with the Eagles as a player and coach. The longest stretch of Caldwell’s 11-year playing career came in Philly, transpiring from 1998-2001. Caldwell, 52, worked as a part-time starter for Ray Rhodes and Andy Reid‘s teams and joined Reid’s staff in 2008. On Reid’s final five Eagles staffs, Caldwell collected a Super Bowl ring as linebackers coach for the 2020 Buccaneers. The Raiders, however, have also shown interest.

With the coaching carousel spinning wildly, here is the latest:

  • The Falcons are the third team wanting to speak with Aden Durde about a DC post, joining the Packers and Rams. Raheem Morris wants to meet with the Cowboys’ defensive line coach, ESPN’s Todd Archer tweets. Durde, 44, has become quite popular. These are believed to be his first slips about a DC interview. Durde and Morris coached together in Atlanta from 2018-20; the former moved up from the quality control level — to outside linebackers coach — during Morris’ season as the Falcons’ interim HC. He has been in Dallas since.
  • Shifting back to Fangio, it seems there is little love lost between the veteran staffer and some Dolphins defenders he coached this season, agent Drew Rosenhaus said. Rosenahus mentions some Dolphins stood in Fangio’s corner but many did not. Fangio has been known to ruffle feathers but has been one of the most in-demand defensive coaches during the 21st century. The Dolphins had given him a deal worth more than $4.5MM per year. While his exit is being framed as the team letting the 65-year-old assistant return to his home state, unpopularity among players likely made that an easier decision.
  • The Buccaneers will not receive two third-round picks as a result of Dave Canales receiving a head coaching job, Mark Maske of the Washington Post notes. Although Canales is Latino, the Bucs will not pick up the Rooney Rule-driven draft haul due to the the coach’s one-year tenure, per the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud. Canales is believed to have needed to be with the Bucs for at least two years to receive the third-round selections from the NFL.
  • Matt House is returning to the NFL. The Jaguars are hiring the LSU defensive coordinator to be their linebackers coach, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. House, the Chiefs’ LBs coach from 2019-21, spent the past two seasons in Baton Rouge. He has served as a DC at four programs, including Kentucky. House will join Kris Richard and Cory Robinson as Ryan Nielsen Jacksonville hires thus far.
  • Spending the past three seasons as a Jets assistant, Ricky Manning Jr. will join the Raiders. The Silver and Black are hiring Manning as their new defensive backs coach. The former NFL DB spent time on the Raiders’ practice squad in 2009; his most notable coaching title has been assistant DBs coach in Seattle under Richard from 2016-17.
  • The Colts are not retaining two of their defensive staffers. They are letting the contracts of defensive line coach Nate Ollie and assistant DBs coach Mike Mitchell expire, per the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson, who adds neither staffer is expected back. Ollie, 32, joined Gus Bradley’s staff in 2022 despite having no history with the veteran coordinator. His firing comes after the Colts saw notable development from defensive ends Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo. The two 2021 draftees combined for 16.5 sacks this season, and the Colts had four players with at least eight. This marked Mitchell’s first coaching gig; he had finished his 10-year career as a safety with the Colts.
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