In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey both praised Xavien Howard — who will reportedly be cut by the Dolphins — and seemed to diss Vic Fangio, the team’s former defensive coordinator.
Xavien Howard will be released at the start of the new league year, per @OmarKelly.
End of an era. pic.twitter.com/dCqquZPlnx
— Dolphin Nation (@Dolphin_Nation) February 23, 2024
Shid be crazy how stuff plays out sometimes but 1 thing ikno fa sho is that it was an honor teaming up with the GREATEST corner in @MiamiDolphins History in my opinion… ❌🔒
(I won’t ever forgive dude for not utilizing our full skillset!) pic.twitter.com/yoYlTLcnP6
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) February 23, 2024
Howard spent eight seasons playing with the Dolphins franchise after the team drafted him in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He appeared in 13 of Miami’s 17 games during the 2023 regular season and accumulated 45 combined tackles, 36 solo tackles, nine assists on tackles, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit.
During his time with the Dolphins, Howard earned four Pro Bowl nods and two All-Pro selections.
Ramsey spent just one season playing alongside Howard in Miami. Last year, the Dolphins traded a 2023 third-round pick to go along with tight end Hunter Long to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Ramsey.
The 29-year-old played in only 10 games for the Dolphins during the regular season and racked up 22 combined tackles, 18 solo tackles, four assists on tackles and three interceptions.
Howard did not suit up in the Dolphins’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs last month, but Ramsey took the field for Miami and ended up with five combined tackles in a game the team lost by 19 points.
Ramsey and the Dolphins’ defense allowed the Chiefs to score 26 points, while Miami mustered just seven, a season-low for the team. Remember that the Dolphins put up points in bunches during the 2023 regular season, as they averaged a whopping 29.2 per game.
Howard and Ramsey will be working with a new defensive coordinator in the 2024 season, as the Dolphins announced earlier this month that they hired Anthony Weaver to replace Fangio. Before joining the Dolphins, Weaver spent time coaching the Baltimore Ravens.
Fangio, meanwhile, is now the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles finished the 2023 regular season with the second-best record of any team in the NFC East division at 11-6, behind only the Dallas Cowboys.
