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Henry McKenna
AFC East Reporter
When an NFL team and a coach “part ways,” it’s often a euphemism for: He got fired.
So when the Miami Dolphins released a statement on Wednesday saying that they were parting ways with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, it sure looked like a firing. A surprising one, for sure, but a firing nonetheless.
In his lone season with Miami, Fangio’s defense allowed the 11th-most points per game (23) and played a big part in the Chiefs’ wild-card blowout over the Dolphins, who had yet another one-and-done postseason. Miami had only marginally improved on defense after finishing ninth in points allowed per game (23.5) in 2022 under former defensive coordinator Josh Boyer.
I didn’t initially like the decision to part ways with Fangio. The logic didn’t track. Even if Fangio wasn’t the guy the Dolphins hoped he’d be in Year 1, his system is notoriously challenging to teach and learn. Miami had a great number of injuries, which meant he was constantly coaching up the next man up. Surely, Year 2 would be better with a foundation of the system. And if nothing else, it’s destructive to change coordinators every year. The Dolphins are onto their third DC in as many years.
But then the situation took a twist.
Shortly after news broke that Fangio was leaving the Dolphins, there was more news: He was likely to land with the Philadelphia Eagles.
He already had his next job lined up?
“The fit with Mike McDaniel and Vic Fangio — there was a lot to like. … But I’m not sure this was as smooth a ride as it seemed from the outside or maybe as it seemed from ‘Hard Knocks,'” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said on Wednesday. “The reason why a mutual parting makes sense is because it does remove Vic Fangio to get out now and potentially to look at other defensive coordinator opportunities.”
But Fangio didn’t look at opportunities. He looked at one opportunity. He is already the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, per…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/making-sense-of-vic-fangios-awkward-exit-from-dolphins
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Publish date : 2024-01-25 20:41:50
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