The pairing of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and the Miami Dolphins did not go quite as well as either side had hoped last season, but perhaps it would have gone a little bit better had the team been able to complete a suggestion reportedly made by the veteran defensive coordinator.
Vic Fangio consistently downplayed involvement in personnel decisions during his one year in Miami. But he told Eagles reporters yesterday that he tried to get the Dolphins to trade for Eagles DT Milton Williams last season; the Eagles were not interested in trading him. Fangio…
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) August 6, 2024
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Fangio tried to get the Dolphins to acquire defensive tackle Milton Williams in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. However, the Eagles reportedly were not willing to trade him.
The report of the suggestion is interesting, because as Jackson writes, Fangio downplayed his role in personnel decisions while with the Dolphins.
Ironically, Fangio is now the defensive coordinator for the Eagles, where he is now coaching Williams as part of that unit. The coach became familiar with the player while working as a consultant for the Eagles in 2022.
“Yeah, I like Milt. Milt is a good player,” Fangio said. “He’s solid, both versus the run and in pass rush. He’s a guy that from afar I’ve liked that the Eagles have had. In fact, I tried to get us to trade for him last year in Miami, but [general manager] Howie [Roseman] wouldn’t do it. But I like Milt. Milt is a pro.”
The Dolphins defense had a successful statistical season in its one season under Fangio, ranking 10th in the NFL in total yards allowed and establishing a franchise record for sacks in a season.
However, there were reports of some questions about Fangio’s strategy and his use of and relationship with Dolphins players. In addition, there were reports of a possible disconnect between head coach Mike McDaniel and Fangio.
Last season, his third with the Eagles, Williams recorded 42 combined tackles while appearing in 16 games and making 10 starts. The season before, he had a career-high four sacks playing all 17 games as a reserve.
He was a third-round pick (No. 73 overall) by the Eagles in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Louisiana Tech University.
This season, the Dolphins defense will be led by new coordinator Anthony Weaver.
Weaver and McDaniel will team together to try to help Miami to a third straight playoff appearance, but the primary goal is to get the franchise’s first postseason win in more than two decades and then capture its first Super Bowl title in more than 50 years.
