Concerning Details of Vic Fangio's Dolphins Exit Emerge

It looks like the Philadelphia Eagles have found their defensive coordinator. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Thursday morning that the Eagles are expected to hire the 65-year-old after he mutually parted ways with the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday.

The Eagles suffered a defensive collapse down the stretch, so it's understandable if fans are excited to see if Fangio can turn things around. Unfortunately, the latest reports surrounding the team's newest higher might dampen some of that excitement.

Eagles Rumors: Rift Between Fangio, Dolphins Players

In an interview with media personality Josh Moser, sports agent Drew Rosenhaus talked about how various Dolphins players "didn’t necessarily get along with Fangio." For reference, Rosenhaus represents several Miami players, including Tyreek Hill, Jeff Wilson Jr., and Emmanuel Ogbah.

Rosenhaus added that while some players did get along with Fangio, "it definitely wasn't a unanimously positive relationship."

While most will likely take Rosenhaus' words with a grain of salt, it's worth noting that Hill did quote the above interview on X (formerly Twitter), captioning it with "Drew the feds," which implies that the 57-year-old was shedding light on some truth.

Maybe there was a rift between Dolphins players and the Eagles' new DC, but that doesn't mean it's entirely Fangio's fault. Not every player and coach is going to get along, and sometimes that has to do with a poor organizational fit. It's entirely possible that Philly's players won't have any issues with the former 2018 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year.

Fangio has a long connection to Philadelphia and the surrounding area. He was born and played high school football in Dunmore, PA before heading to East Stroudsburg for college. He went on to be a defensive assistant for the USFL's Philadelphia Stars in 1984 and even served as a consultant for the Eagles during a 2022 campaign that saw them reach the Super Bowl.

Considering how Fangio's mother and children still live in the area, returning to Philadelphia could bring out the best in his coaching abilities both on and off of the field.

The Eagles finished the 2023 regular season ranked third-worst in scoring defense, third-worst in red-zone defense, and seventh-worst in total yards allowed. For reference, Philadelphia ranked eighth, 11th, and second in those regards with Fangio as a consultant in 2022.

Time will tell if Fangio can have the same impact on the Eagles' defense in 2024, regardless of how much the players wind up liking him or not.

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