Former Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio gets last laugh with Eagles' win over Commanders
If you told Miami Dolphins fans back in October 2023 that Vic Fangio would be on his way to the Super Bowl in January 2025, you'd probably see a group of euphoric folks wearing aqua and orange. If only. Fangio, in his first season as the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive coordinator, is on his way to […]
If you told Miami Dolphins fans back in October 2023 that Vic Fangio would be on his way to the Super Bowl in January 2025, you'd probably see a group of euphoric folks wearing aqua and orange.
If only.
Fangio, in his first season as the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive coordinator, is on his way to the Super Bowl after a 55-23 thrashing of the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship game on Sunday evening. A place Dolphins fans can only dream about at this point in time.
Fangio, as Miami fans know, mutually agreed to part ways with the Dolphins in January 2024 in the wake of a massive collapse that saw Miami blow a big lead in the division after losing 3 of their last 5 games.
His departure did not cause much sadness from his former Dolphins players. In fact, it received some strong support based on some of their reactions, including safety Jevon Holland, who had some strong comments about Fangio in retrospect. He mentioned new Anthony Weaver being a "good person" and a "180" in comparing the differences between Weaver and Fangio back in May.
Holland also posted a video of himself kicking rocks when Fangio's departure was announced, which Holland later explained was based on his feeling that Fangio didn't want to be in Miami.
“One, that was what I first thought of," Holland said. "Two, because I felt like even though he was our coach, he wanted to be somewhere else. Even though that he was teaching us and we were learning his defense, and we were under him and his pupils and whatnot, we weren’t necessarily where he wanted to be at. So, I was like 'peace'. And I could feel that off him the whole season. Great mind, knows ball. We were a top defense. I just didn’t feel like he really wanted to be here. Which is fine. He has the pick of the litter, and he got to go where he wants to go, and I wish him nothing but the best. But, if you don't want to be here, then you don't have to be here."
Fangio's abrasive nature and inflexibility with his players and other coaches were cited as a reason for the split. But, according to Eagles great Ron Jaworski, he argued in favor of Fangio that Dolphins players didn't want to work hard and partied too much despite Fangio allegedly trying to push them to change.
Who knows at this point who was in the right there. However, Fangio and a hard-nosed, productive Eagles defense are on their way back to the Super Bowl for the second time in three years. Meanwhile, the Dolphins – still fighting that nagging "soft" label – will be watching them on the couch again after stretching their playoff winless streak to at least a quarter of a century.
Advantage, Fangio.
