Former Vic Fangio Players Speak Out Amid Negative Reports

Drama continues to follow the Philadelphia Eagles despite their roller coaster of a season being over. One of the biggest talking points right now is the arrival of new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

His sudden exit from the Miami Dolphins has seemed to ruffle a few feathers on South Beach, with anonymous players expressing unhappiness in regards to how he ran the defense during his brief stint.

However, other ex-players from Fangio's days with the Denver Broncos have now shared positive words about the veteran coach amid this negative publicity.

Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer spoke with Broncos Pro Bowlers Justin Simmons and Patrick Surtain II at this year's event to give their takes on Fangio, since he coached both them previously.

Simmons sung Fangio's praises, stating "I owe a lot of my success to Vic and his staff." The talented safety said Fangio helped him learn a ton about the game, so he's confident "Philadelphia’s got a great one.”

Meanwhile, Surtain pushed back on the notion that Fangio's old-school approach is a bad thing.

""It’s in a good way. I think he knows what a good defense looks like. He’s proven that so far. So I think his philosophy, his input, his resume speaks for itself.”"

- Patrick Surtain II

Hopefully these positives words from two accomplished players help quell some of the fears Fangio's reviews from Miami have raised. It's tough for any coach to be universally liked, especially one who's adjusting to a new era in the NFL.

However, Simmons and Surtain's comments both make it clear Fangio isn't just a dinosaur who's out of place in the modern game. They appreciated his mindset and the experience he's able to impart on others after being in the league for so long.

Hopefully Fangio's arrival turns out to be exactly what the Eagles' defense needed to turn things around in 2024.

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