The Miami Dolphins are reportedly set to officially hire former Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio as the team’s defensive coordinator after the Super Bowl.
After speaking with multiple teams about their defensive coordinator position, Vic Fangio has decided to join the Dolphins as their defensive coordinator and officially will accept the position on the Miami staff after the Super Bowl.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 2, 2023
The 64-year-old Fangio is currently serving as a defensive consultant for the Philadelphia Eagles, who are set to face the Kansas City Chiefs in the championship clash. The news confirms an earlier report which indicated that Fangio would be hired.
Fangio has put together a lengthy career in the league, having served as a defensive coordinator for five other NFL teams.
From 1995 to 1998, Fangio was the defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers. During the team’s second season ever, it reached the NFC Championship Game.
Fangio then moved on to handle the same duties for three years with the Indianapolis Colts. Working under then-head coach Jim Mora, Fangio was a part of playoff teams during his first two seasons.
Hoping to recapture his early success, Fangio then became the defensive coordinator for the Houston Texans in 2002. He spent four seasons there before becoming a linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens from 2006 to 2009.
In the 2010 season, Fangio served as Stanford University’s defensive coordinator, and he then followed Jim Harbaugh to the San Francisco 49ers. Fangio made an immediate impact on the 49ers defense, with the team ranking among the top units on that side of the ball.
The 49ers reached the Super Bowl during Fangio’s second season with them. When Harbaugh was replaced after the 2014 season, Fangio became the defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears.
In Fangio’s four seasons with the Bears, his efforts to improve the team’s defense took a dramatic turn upward in 2018. That success resulted in him being named head coach of the Broncos.
Over three seasons, Fangio was unable to make an impact with the Broncos, compiling a 19-30 record. That led to his dismissal last season.
Fangio will be tasked with trying to energize a Dolphins defense that allowed 30 points or more in five games this season. The defense also allowed 34 points in a playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Former Dolphins defensive coordinator Josh Boyer was among the coaches let go after the loss.
Given Fangio’s strong resume, the Dolphins and their fans are certainly hoping for the same sort of impact he’s had in his previous stints. Making a deep playoff run would help prove the wisdom of the hiring.
