UPDATE: Vic Fangio said he has not yet accepted any new jobs for the 2023 season yet, according to longtime Denver Broncos reporter Mike Klis. But a potential contract with the Dolphins has not been ruled out.
The Miami Dolphins hired Mike McDaniel a year ago, and the first-year head coach opted to keep defensive coordinator Josh Boyer on the staff thanks to his success in past seasons. Yet, the Dolphins’ defense slipped in 2022, leading to Boyer’s departure. Now, the team has made a splashy hire with Vic Fangio.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported earlier on Sunday that Fangio’s contract with the Dolphins makes him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in pro football. While Fangio’s salary hasn’t been revealed, and coordinator salaries usually aren’t disclosed, it’s reportedly a three-year contract with a fourth-year team option.
The three-year deal places Fangio on the same timeline as coach McDaniel, who is also signed through the 2025 season. More importantly, the Dolphins have landed one of the top defensive minds available during this year’s hiring cycle.
Related: 2023 NFL defense rankings: Championship Weekend previews, offseason outlook for 32 teams
What would Vic Fangio bring to the Miami Dolphins’ defense?
Fangio not only brings three years of NFL head coaching experience to the table, he also brings his 22 seasons as a defensive coordinator. After his three-year Denver Broncos tenure, Fangio spent the 2022 season as a defensive consultant with the Philadelphia Eagles, who boasted the league’s eighth-best scoring defense.
But Fangio’s not getting hired based on consulting with the Eagles, he’s being hired thanks to his long history of success leading top-ranked NFL defenses.
Fangio loves to rely on a scheme that features two deep safeties built to reduce big plays. This ideology has helped Fangio’s defenses become a top-10 unit in seven seasons, with the most recent one occurring in 2021. In 2018, Fangio’s Chicago Bears defense allowed the third-fewest yards and the fewest points in football, helping him land his first head coaching gig in Denver.
Now, Fangio will look to build upon his previous success in Miami, where he has a group of talented young defenders, including Christian Wilkins, Jaelan Phillips, and Bradley Chubb.