The Miami Dolphins have hired Vic Fangio, the former head coach of the Denver Broncos, as their defensive coordinator.
After Denver fired him in January, Fangio, 64, sat out this season.
After being hired in 2019, Fangio spent three seasons as the Broncos’ coach, going 19-30. He will see outside linebacker Bradley Chubb again in Miami, who he coached in Denver before being traded to the Dolphins last season.
The Dolphins’ and Fangio’s agreement was first reported by NFL Network.
Eight times, Fangio’s defenses have placed in the top 10, most recently against the Chicago Bears (No. 3) in 2018. In 2019, his final season as their head coach, the Broncos finished eighth overall. He has worked as a defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, and Chicago Bears over the course of 19 seasons.
Josh Boyer, the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator, was let go earlier this month. Boyer remained as the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator when Mike McDaniel took over as head coach the previous season.
In 2022, Miami had the fourth-best run defense in the league, but it also had the 21st-worst defensive expected points added, the 22nd-worst sacks per pass attempt, and the 24th-worst third-down percentage and points allowed per game. Last season, a defense that had taken the most fumbles in each of the previous two seasons struggled to turn the ball over, finishing with just 14 fumbles, which was tied for second in the NFL.
In addition to alternates Jevon Holland, Christian Wilkins, and Chubb, Fangio joins a defense that features several players who are capable of making the Pro Bowl. These players include former All-Pro cornerback Xavien Howard.
He joins quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Darrell Bevell and tight ends assistant head coach Jon Embree as the third coach on McDaniel’s staff with head coaching experience.