The Philadelphia Eagles have had their share of chemistry issues over the past few seasons, but the one figure that kept everything together is defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Fangio joined the Eagles as defensive coordinator in 2024, and a few months later, he was dominating Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Even in a year when the Eagles were bounced in the wild-card round, Fangio’s defense was a key reason they got to the playoffs to defend their title, ranking fifth in scoring defense and 13th in total yards allowed.
A resume that includes nearly 40 years of experience requires a hefty salary, and the Eagles have obliged, making him one of the highest-paid coordinators in the NFL. But while Fangio sat atop the mountain of cash, he may be sliding down in the aftermath of Brian Flores’s contract drama with the Minnesota Vikings.
Flores was a coaching free agent when his contract expired after the 2025 season and provided some concerning moments after interviewing for the Washington Commanders’ DC job and head coaching opportunities with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. But Flores agreed to return to the Vikings earlier this week, with ESPN’s Kevin Seifert noting that his new contract will make him one of the highest-paid coordinators in the NFL.
Given Flores’s desire to be a head coach, his new salary is likely to be up there with Fangio’s and could have the Eagles' DC looking for a raise ahead of the 2026 campaign.
Brian Flores’s New Contract Could Have Major Implications for Vic Fangio
According to Sportico’s Jacob Feldman, Fangio was making $4 to $5 million annually as of February 2025, and he remained one of the highest-paid coordinators in the NFL after Chip Kelly reportedly was given $6 million to become the next offensive coordinator of the Las Vegas Raiders last offseason.
Unlike Kelly, who was fired by the Raiders after just 10 months on the job last November, Fangio has been worth the investment and may even be worth more money than the Vikings are reportedly giving Flores.
Since arriving in Philadelphia before the 2024 season, the Eagles rank second in the NFL with 628 points compared to the 665 points (6th) the Vikings have given up under Flores. Philadelphia also ranks second in yards per play allowed (4.85), while Minnesota has the advantage with 54 turnovers (4th) to the Eagles' (47) turnovers.
With the addition of a Super Bowl ring from 2024 and several young players that Fangio has developed into cornerstones of the Eagles' defense, he already has plenty of negotiating power if he wants a new deal, and it could be even stronger considering the current state of the team.
The Eagles are in the process of fixing their offense, which got its jumpstart after the franchise removed offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo from his post after one season. While Philadelphia looks great on paper with Jalen Hurts at quarterback and Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, and Devonta Smith at the skill positions, it also could fall apart if they hire the wrong coordinator for the second straight season.
With Christian Parker already departing to become the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys, it would be shocking if Fangio threatened a sudden retirement if the Eagles do not want to pay him. But, interestingly, Flores will be making a similar amount of money despite lesser results and the same level of importance to his team’s success.
Perhaps that’s the difference between a franchise that’s recently won a Super Bowl and another franchise that didn’t make the playoffs a year ago. But Flores’s new deal will definitely be something Fangio keeps an eye on if the details come out.