Vic Fangio has been on the job as the Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator for some three months.
Dolphins players have sat in meetings with him for not nearly as long. Fangio and his defense began preparing officially for the 2023 season just two weeks ago.
But in that time, the talent-infused Dolphins roster has gotten a decent sense of what to expect of Fangio as a person and an X’s and O’s savant.
Miami Dolphins Players React To New DC Vic Fangio
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel hired Fangio on Feb. 15 to replace Josh Boyer, who was a holdover from the Brian Flores era.
Fangio joined the Dolphins after spending the 2022 season as a consultant to the Philadelphia Eagles. He was a man in high demand this hiring cycle after a three-year stint as the Denver Broncos head coach.
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He has served as a defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers (1995-1998), Indianapolis Colts (1999-2001), Houston Texans (2002-2005), San Francisco 49ers (2011-2014), and Chicago Bears (2015-2018).
He joined the Dolphins with a reputation as one of the best defensive minds alive. But for the vast majority of Dolphins players, that reputation is all they had to go on.
That has changed. Here’s what key Dolphins players have said about Fangio in recent weeks.
Linebacker Jerome Baker
Jerome Baker has lost count of how many defensive coordinators he’s had in his five-plus years spent with the Dolphins. How has Fangio set himself apart?
“I’m still learning who he is as a person,” Baker said. “But so far, he’s just, you know, shoot the straight. He’s not gonna sugarcoat it. He likes things the way he likes it, and so far, it’s working out.
“As far as his being with the playbook and everything, I’m still learning it, man. I’m still trying to figure out his style and the things you like to do. But that’s why we have this offseason to really learn each other.”
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Baker added:
“[Fangio’s system] gives me some freedom to just go out there and just play ball. I mean, sometimes, you know, I ask like, ‘What’s the rule on this?’ And [he] kind of gives me like, ‘It’s not really a rule.'”
“It’s kind of, play ball,” Baker continued. “So, things like that for a player, you know, just to have that freedom. You know, I’ve been playing ball for a long time. So, it’s one of those things that, you know, I know what I’m doing. It’s kind of, you give me the freedom to make a play, and I’m excited for that.”
When asked what he meant by more freedom, Baker gave an example:
“Simple things like alignment. There’s some instances it’s not just an exact thing, it’s kind of however you feel you can get your job done. You know, that’s like a quick example, you know, little things like that. For a player, it gives you freedom of, you know, you don’t have somebody looking over your back or trying to make sure everything is right. Some guys play a different way, and just a little freedom definitely helps.”
More Miami Dolphins Players Weigh in on Vic Fangio
- Cornerback Xavien Howard: “His defense has always been top-five, so he’s been doing a good job at that. I’m looking forward to having him on my side now and improve our defense.”
- EDGE Bradley Chubb: “He’s going to demand the most of us. Each and every player on that roster, no matter how many plays you made in the past, how many plays you could make, it’s all about what you’re doing each and every day to get better, and he’s going to hold you to that high standard.
- Rookie cornerback Cam Smith: “Very wise dude. A dude that’s going to get on you about every nook and cranny. Even just one of my steps on one of my plays, he keyed it out, and I really didn’t notice it until he said something about it. Just how he pays attention to details, I love a coach that pays attention to details and wants everything smooth, crisp, and ironed out.”