Eagles Hire Vic Fangio As New Defensive Coordinator

Less than a day after mutually parting ways with the Miami Dolphins, coach Vic Fangio signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles to become their new defensive coordinator. He will be tasked with rebuilding a defense that is coming off a meltdown late in the 2023 season.

Between 1986 and 2023, Fangio has worked for ten NFL teams, including a three-year stint as the Broncos’ head coach from 2019 to 2021. He spent the 2022 season in Philadelphia as a consultant before taking the defensive coordinator position in Miami.

Though Miami was most notable for its high-flying offense, the Dolphins were credible on defense, allowing more points to opponents than average but less yards per game across the league. Fangio has never been a member of a Super Bowl-winning team, but at this point in his career, he is a steady hand and already has knowledge of Philadelphia’s system.

For several years, the Eagles have been known for their solid defense, but the team entered a tailspin in the latter half of the regular season this year. Once pegged as a serious Super Bowl contender, Philadelphia transformed into a highly speculative playoff bust in the span of a few months.

Despite beginning the season 10-1 and making the playoffs, the team’s defense finished 30th in the league in points allowed. Similar defensive stats consistently placed the Eagles near the very bottom of the league.

With the postseason looming, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni relieved former defense coordinator Sean Desai of his play-calling duties and replaced him with Matt Patricia. The situation only grew worse. Combined with a collapsing, injury-riddled offense, the Eagles went 1-6 to end the season and got knocked out in the Wild Card round by the Buccaneers. Neither of the team’s defensive play-callers will rejoin the team this season.

Fangio’s second stint in Philadelphia will allow him to move closer to his family in Pennsylvania, a likely motivating factor for accepting the position so quickly. But while the change may simply be convenient for Fangio, Sirianni’s fate with the turbulent Eagles may be determined by this decision.