Dolphins to interview internal candidate for DC position

The Dolphins are among the teams in need of a new coordinator after DC Vic Fangio departed to take charge of the Eagles’ defense. Miami has looked outside the organization for replacement options, but the team will consider at least one internal candidate.

The Dolphins are expected to interview outside linebackers coach Ryan Slowik for their defensive coordinator position, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Slowik joined the Dolphins’ staff last offseason after a number of stops at the NFL level. He has been an NFL staffer dating back to 2005, with the exception of a stint in the college ranks in 2017 and ’18.

The son of Bob Slowik and brother of Texans OC Bobby Slowik, Ryan has spent time with the Broncos, Cardinals, Jets, Browns and Dolphins. His tenures have seen him work with several position groups on defense, but his most common title has been OLBs coach. He has never worked as a defensive coordinator at the college or NFL levels.

Miami ranked third in the league in sacks in 2023 (Slowik’s first year in his current post), despite losing Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb to season-ending injuries midway through the campaign. The Dolphins’ defense was dealt a number of blows in the injury department late in the season, something which factored into the team’s Week 18 loss that dropped them out of the division lead as well as its wild-card defeat. Still, Slowik’s work as a member of Mike McDaniel‘s staff is sufficient to put him on the team’s radar for an interview.