NEWSLETTER
Multiple reports this afternoon have the Miami Dolphins hiring Vic Fangio as their defensive coordinator. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero broke the news on his Twitter account this afternoon:
Mike McDaniel was searching for a new offensive coordinator after the Dolphins parted ways with Josh Boyer and a bevy of assistant coaches on January 19.
Boyer joined the Dolphins in 2019 as the team’s defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2020 under former head coach Brian Flores. Safeties coach Steve Gregory, outside linebackers coach Ty McKenzie, and assistant linebackers coach Steve Ferentz were also relieved of their duties.
When McDaniel was hired last offseason, he kept Boyer as his defensive coordinator. But it appears that McDaniel is going to hire his own coaches. Much as the case was with Leftwich’s firing from Tampa Bay earlier.
Here’s how Miami’s defense stacked up in 2022:
Landing Fangio is a tremendous hire for McDaniel and the Dolphins. Fangio is widely regarded as one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL.
Fangio was also reportedly coveted by Frank Reich and the Carolina Panthers. As recently as Friday night reports indicated, momentum towards a Carolina deal was growing. Ultimately, Fangio is heading to Miami to help a Dolphins team that made a trip to the playoffs this season.
UPDATE: Fangio is getting some serious money in this deal, with Albert Breer reporting a $4.5 million annual salary. For a defensive coordinator. Wow. The average salary for a defensive coordinator, per NBC Connecticut, is $1 million. Fangio is making 4.5x that amount.
