Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland. Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles stars defend new DC following criticism

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 5/22/24

Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland seemed to take a shot at his departed defensive coordinator (Vic Fangio) on Tuesday.

Fangio is now with the Philadelphia Eagles in the same role and on Wednesday, two of his new players stood up for the 65-year-old.

Eagles CB Darius Slay adds on Fangio, "I don't know what happened over there. But from my point of view over here, he's a great dude. ... I used to watch Aqib Talib and all them guys, and corners that played under his system, they always talking highly on him."
— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) May 22, 2024

The former head coach of the Denver Broncos mutually agreed to part ways with Miami in January.

The Dolphins ended their only season under Fangio with the 22nd-ranked defense, surrendering 23 points per game. Miami allowed more than 30 points four times during the 2023 campaign (all road contests), including 48 to the Buffalo Bills in Week 4 and 56 to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17.

Fangio joined the NFL ranks as a 28-year-old linebackers coach with the New Orleans Saints in 1986, a position he'd hold through the 1994 campaign. Fangio then began the first of his seven defensive coordinator gigs, patrolling the sidelines with the Carolina Panthers from 1995-98.

Over the next 20 years, he served as defensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts (1999-2001), Houston Texans (2002-05), San Francisco 49ers (2011-14) and Chicago Bears (2015-18) before landing his only lead as the Broncos head coach. Fangio was at the helm in Denver for three seasons from 2019-2021, as the team went just 19-30 and failed to make the playoffs.

After making it to the Super Bowl as a consultant with the Eagles during the 2022 season, Fangio was hired by the Dolphins ahead of the 2023 campaign.

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