Going green: Eagles to hand defense to Vic Fangio

League: NFL


Posted on: 25 Jan, 2024 at 03:15 PM

Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

One day after ending his one-year run as defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins, Vic Fangio is taking over the Eagles' defense, according to multiple reports Thursday.

Fangio and head coach Mike McDaniel said a mutual parting in Miami was agreed to Wednesday, not long before Nick Sirianni was asked at his season-ending press conference about bringing the 65-year-old to Philadelphia.

Fangio has been a defensive coordinator in the NFL for 20 seasons and was head coach of the Denver Broncos (2019-21). When he was fired by the Broncos, Fangio didn't immediately take another full-time role but served as a consultant for the Eagles during their run to the NFC Championship in 2022.

He discussed the coordinator job with Sirianni last year but was hired by the Dolphins when Miami made him the highest-paid coordinator in the NFL.

Philadelphia is hiring a third defensive coordinator in three seasons.

Jonathan Gannon was hired as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals after the Eagles' Super Bowl run and Sean Desai held the role most of last season before being demoted in favor of Matt Patricia, former New England Patriots defensive coordinator and Detroit Lions head coach. Neither is returning to the Eagles in 2024.

Fangio's defense in Miami was ravaged by injuries and was No. 22 in total defense and points allowed last season.

He was also the defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers stretching back to the mid-1990s.

--Field Level Media