REPORT: Dolphins Make Vic Fangio the Highest Paid Defensive Coordinator in the NFL

February 3, 2023, by Michael Cerami Chicago Bears, NFL

Last weekend, word broke that the Miami Dolphins were closing in on Vic Fangio as their new Defensive Coordinator. Given his success in that role – and recent experience as a head coach – we knew it was going to cost a lot. But as it turns out, he’s actually becoming the highest paid defensive coordinator in the entire NFL.

Sources: The Dolphins are doing a three-year deal with Vic Fangio that'll pay their new defensive coordinator more than $4.5 million per. Was always going to be competitive luring Fangio, and Miami was willing to compete.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 3, 2023

According to NBC Connecticut, the average salary for a coordinator in the NFL is $1 million. Fangio is making 4.5x that amount. And he’s beating out the previous leader among all coordinators, Josh McDaniels, who signed a five-year deal with the Patriots that was reportedly just over $4 million annually.

Here’s what Patrick had to say when the Dolphins-Fangio report first popped up:

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:

Points Allowed: 23.5 (24th)

Yards Allowed Per Game: 337.8 (18th)

Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 234.8 (27th)

Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 103.0 (4th)

Sacks Per Pass Attempt: 6.41% (22nd)

Interception Rate: 1.28% (30th)

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