Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio out after one season. What to know

The Dolphins and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio have agreed to mutually part ways after one season, the team announced Wednesday.

“I want to thank Vic for his contributions in 2023. When we assessed the season, it became apparent that this was the best path forward for all parties involved,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said in a statement. “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, 65, was made the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the NFL last offseason, tasked with replacing Josh Boyer and improving a defense that struggled in the 2022 season. And despite injuries to several key players, Miami finished the 2023 season atop the league in multiple statistical categories.

ESPN reported that Fangio is the top target for the Eagles to hire as their defensive coordinator and a deal is expected. Fangio is a Pennsylvania native who consulted the team last year while spending a year out of coaching. ESPN also reported that Miami is allowing Fangio to leave to be closer to his family in Pennsylvania.

Last year, ESPN reported that Fangio likely would have been the next Eagles defensive coordinator if not for the Arizona Cardinals tampering with Jonathan Gannon.

When asked about the validity of the report at the end of organized team workouts, Fangio said: “That’s possible, but I won’t confirm nor deny.”

The Dolphins entered training camp with hopes of fielding a top defense with Pro Bowl-level talent at each level of the unit. But 2023 got off to an ominous start when cornerback Jalen Ramsey, the team’s top offseason addition, tore his meniscus on the second day of training camp in late July.

Ramsey missed the first seven games of the season, but the Dolphins’ defense hit its stride upon his return in Week 8. In Week 9, a matchup with the Chiefs in Germany, Miami fielded its entire projected starting defense for the first time and had one of its best performances of the year, holding Kansas City to 14 points and scoreless in the second half.

Fangio brought a zone-based defense that was a stark difference from the man-to-man, blitz-heavy tendencies of Boyer and former head coach Brian Flores. And when the Dolphins were at full strength, they were one of the better units in the NFL. Miami finished the season with a franchise-record 56 sacks in the regular season and ranked 10th in the league in total defense, allowing 318.3 yards per game. Though the Dolphins struggled in some matchups with elite offenses and quarterbacks, it was the first time Miami finished a season with a top-10 defense since 2010.

However, injuries undercut the unit in the second half of the season.

Outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips tore his Achilles in Week 12 and inside linebacker Jerome Baker missed five games, including the wild-card loss to the Chiefs, because of injuries. Outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (torn ACL) and cornerback Xavien Howard (foot) missed the final two games of the season, while safety Jevon Holland missed five of the last seven games because of sprained MCLs. Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel also missed the wild-card game because of a foot injury. In the 26-7 road loss to Kansas City, Miami played without five starting defenders.

The move didn’t come as a surprise to multiple players and was one seemingly made as much because of where Fangio stood with players as it did with Xs and Os. Fangio made strategic and personnel decisions throughout the season that confused and, at times, frustrated players. Multiple league sources said Fangio had his favorites but didn’t have a good relationship with several players on the defense.

In a Week 4 loss to the Buffalo Bills, a 48-20 defeat, Fangio opted against using cornerback Xavien Howard to shadow wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who caught six passes for 120 yards and three touchdowns. Howard, who has shadowed elite receivers throughout his career, would later say that he wanted to opportunity to follow Diggs.

When Howard was out for a Week 15 game against the New York Jets, Ramsey successfully shadowed Garrett Wilson, a move that Fangio said was a late change once Howard was ruled out.

Weeks later, with Miami facing the Dallas Cowboys, Ramsey was asked about the possibility of shadowing CeeDee Lamb. “I don’t think that’s the game plan. I don’t think that’s my role in this defense,” Ramsey said.

On Jan. 5, when asked whether he and Fangio have spoken about a way to maximize his talents in the defense, Ramsey tersely said: “That’s a question for Vic.”

As far as personnel decisions, neither rookie cornerback Cam Smith, the team’s top pick in the 2023 Draft, nor defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah was able to get consistent playing time, despite a rash of injuries at their position group. When asked during the season if they had received a reason for their lack of playing time, both players said they did not.

At the team’s end-of-season news conference, McDaniel was asked whether Fangio would return for a second season and did not commit to retaining him.

“I think all things are fair right now,” McDaniel said on Jan. 15. “We’re still kind of grieving through the process collectively as a coaching staff. Quite honestly, the main thing that I’m trying to do is make sure that I maintain and communicate with the players as they go through their exit interviews. It’s between 50 to 70 guys that I meet with. Then we’ll get together as a coaching staff and kind of undress the season in a painful but productive way. I think that’s what all healthy staffs do really regardless of success or failure.”

Now, McDaniel will be on the search for a new defensive coordinator for the second straight season.

NFL Network reported that former Los Angeles Chargers coach Brandon Staley would be a candidate in Miami. Last year, along with interviewing Fangio, the Dolphins also spoke to former Eagles and Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai, former Saints co-defensive coordinator Kris Richard and linebackers coach Anthony Campanile. The Giants requested to interview Campanile for their defensive coordinator opening last week.