The Miami Dolphins have found their defensive coordinator. According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, the franchise has agreed to terms with Vic Fangio.
The #Dolphins have agreed to terms with Vic Fangio on a deal that makes him the NFL’s highest-paid coordinator, per sources.
It’s a 3-year deal with a 4th-year team option. Fangio, the former #Broncos coach, is one of football’s best defensive minds. Huge get for Mike McDaniel. pic.twitter.com/ynCK2BB2xC
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 29, 2023
On Wednesday, it was reported that the Dolphins were set to interview a couple of candidates for the job opening, including Fangio and Sean Desai. It seems that it didn’t take long for the organization to zero in on the 64-year-old.
As a defensive consultant for the Philadelphia Eagles, Fangio helped the team hold opponents to 20.2 points per game in the 2022 regular season.
Prior to working with the Eagles, he helmed the Denver Broncos as their head coach for three seasons, finishing his tenure with a 19-30 record. Despite his underwhelming performance in that role, Fangio has still earned a reputation as one of the best defensive minds in the NFL, having been in the league for decades.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel had reportedly tagged Fangio as a top target for defensive coordinator even before landing his coaching gig with the Dolphins. After the team let go of Josh Boyer after its 2022 season ended, McDaniel was able to land his guy.
Mike McDaniel has had Vic Fangio as a top target to run his defense since before he started as Dolphins head coach, per source, and now he lands his guy.
Fangio had plenty options but chose Miami, a move that should help a group that regressed to bottom-10 scoring D last year.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) January 29, 2023
Hopefully, the new hire can help Miami improve on the defensive end, where the team struggled in the 2022 campaign. The Dolphins allowed 23.5 points per match in the regular season, ranking 24th in the league in that department. Unfortunately, Miami’s iffy defense contributed to the team’s subpar regular season record (9-8) and early postseason elimination at the hands of the Buffalo Bills.
While Miami’s offense has improved drastically under McDaniel, the defense has to keep up if the organization wants to earn a higher seed and make a deep playoff run next season.
Still, the Dolphins are seemingly headed in the right direction after reaching the postseason again to end a lengthy absence. Hopefully, they can make it further in the 2023 campaign, which seems like a very real possibility.
