Early candidates for the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator job after Vic Fangio left
Longtime NFL coach Vic Fangio was fired on Wednesday, leaving the Miami Dolphins in require of a new defensive coordinator. The team has two good candidates on staff.
Campanile was the linebackers coach in 2023, but what’s important is that he interviewed for the DC job last offseason beforehand the Dolphins hired Fangio, and Mike McDaniel kept him on the staff after taking over as head coach in 2022 after Brian Flores was fired.
Hill used to play defensive back for the Dolphins and was on their coaching staff twice. He returned to Miami last year to work as the passing game coordinator and secondary coach.
You should remember that Hill is a fan of Fangio’s and that he joined the Dolphins after being a defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers from 2021 to 2022.
Along with Campanile and Fangio, Sean Desai, who was the associate head coach of the Seattle Seahawks at the time, and Kris Richard, who was the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach for the New Orleans Saints at the time, were also thought to have interviewed to the Dolphins defense-coaching job last year.
Both are looking for employment right now. Desai learned from Fangio and started last season as the Philadelphia Eagles’ DC. He was then demoted and fired.
In 2023, Richard was no longer playing in the NFL because he had left the Saints. The Saints were minute in the NFL in how few passing yards they gave up during his time as co-DC.
A former coach of the Washington Commanders, Brandon Staley, a former head coach of the Chargers, and Wink Martindale, a former defensive coordinator for the Giants are some other names to keep an eye on.
Fangio was also the third defensive coordinator for the Dolphins to leave after just one season since the 2016 season began. Matt Burke played between 2017 and 2018 and Josh Boyer between 2020 and 2022.
The 2016 DC was Vance Joseph, who then left to become the head coach in the Denver Broncos. The 2019 DC was Patrick Graham, who then left to become the NYC DC.
Also, the Dolphins have had three one-time offensive coordinators in a row: Chad O’Shea in 2019, Chan Gailey in 2020, as well as Eric Studesville/George Godsey to 2021 before Frank Thomas took over in 2022.
Vic Fangio, who has been the Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator for a long time, and the team have agreed to depart after just one season.
“I want to thank Vic for what he did in 2023,” Mike McDaniel, the Dolphins coach, said in a word. “After looking back at the season, it was clear that this would be the best way to move forward for everyone.”
Now, we need to quickly turn our attention to 2024 and beyond as we look for the best person to take over our defense going forward. We are still fully dedicated to helping our players grow and to build a winning team that can keep winning.
According to CBS Sports HQ NFL Insider Josina Anderson, someone who knows about the Eagles’ search says that Fangio is the frontrunner for the job.
Fangio worked as a consultant for Philadelphia during the 2022 season and almost got hired by the team last offseason.
Fangio, who is 65 years old, was in charge of the Dolphins’ defense in 2023 when several key players got hurt. The unit was ranked 22nd in the NFL within points permitted 15th in passing, seventh to rushing, 20th to third-down efficiency, and 28th in red zone efficiency at the end of the season.
Miami lost to the Chiefs by 19 points on Super Wild Party Weekend, and their defense gave up 26 points. The offense could only score seven points during that loss, which ended their season.
It wasn’t a very good time for Staley as the head coach for the Chargers, but he did improve the defense by coaching there before.
Before taking the job with the Chargers, Staley was the defensive head coach for the Rams for one season in 2020. That season, his defense led the NFL in yards and points allowed.
When he took over as head coach of the Chargers, they were 23rd, 20th, and 28th in yards allowed over his three years in charge.
Things weren’t going as well on that side of the ball. But there’s also a link between Staley as well as head coach Mike McDaniel: they are said to have the same agent.