Caleb Harris
Forty years ago, Vic Fangio coached at Veterans Stadium with the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL. Not even Fangio could have predicted a professional coaching career that spanned 40 years, involving being defensive coordinator for seven teams and rising to the position of head coach with the Denver Broncos.
Fangio wouldn’t have lasted in NFL so long if he didn’t adapt to the times. For a career that began as a defensive assistant with the Stars, everything comes full circle.
“I thought it would be cool to end it here,” Fangio said in his first press conference since becoming defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. “So, 40 years later, here I am.”
Fangio plans to finish his career with the Eagles, his seventh stint as a defensive coordinator in a league where he took his first job as a linebackers coach at age 28 with the New Orleans Saints in 1986. After grooming Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson and Sam Mills, Fangio He earned his first defensive coordinator position with the expansion Carolina Panthers in 1995.
Well respected throughout the league and architect of the defensive philosophy that many teams around the league are emulating, things haven’t changed much for Fangio since returning to Philadelphia.
“One of the first things I did, several times, I still go to Philadium on Packer [Avenue] for my meals, just like I did back then,” Fangio said. “Just to back up, my kids live two hours south of here. My mother, 97, lives two hours north of here. So, lots of family considerations.
“I was a huge Philadelphia fan growing up across all sports. It was a thrill for me to go to work every day at Veterans Stadium for 40 years because I used to go to games there all the time. come back 40 years later and hopefully end up here.”
A native of Dunmore, Pennsylvania, Fangio, 65, has built a reputation as one of today’s brilliant defensive minds. NFL. His defenses finished in the top 10 in points allowed eight times and in the top 10 in yards allowed 10 times. When Fangio was defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014, his defenses never finished outside the top 10 in points or yards allowed.
“Good players. And I’m not trying to be a smart guy with this,” Fangio said when asked about the important elements of his defense. “We have a system that is versatile, we like to think. You need to be versatile because every week you face different attacking strengths, different schemes.
“You need to have a versatile system for offense today in the NFL. What we will eventually do is learn what our players are best at.”
Fangio had the opportunity to join the Eagles after the 2022 season, but the timing didn’t work out. He was in the building during preparation for Super Bowl LVII, helping the offense get a good look at the defense they would face at the Kansas City Chiefs (the Eagles’ offense scored 35 points, most by a losing team in the Super Bowl). Fangio accepted an offer to become the defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins before Jonathan Gannon accepted the head coaching job with the Arizona Cardinals following their Super Bowl LVII loss.
After the Dolphins finished 22nd in points allowed and 10th in yards allowed, the Eagles had a defensive coordinator opening. Sean Desai was fired and the Eagles allowed Matt Patricia’s contract to expire.
Fangio saw an opportunity to go to Philadelphia, just a year later than he initially thought.
“I think that’s a fair assumption,” Fangio said. “Everything we do, whether there, here or anywhere else I’ve been, is what we think is best for the team and for the defense, specifically, to stop someone.
If Fangio gets his way, he will cap off a distinguished coaching career with the Eagles. Philadelphia is where Fangio started and where he wants to end up on his terms.
“I think so,” Fangio said. “But as we all know in this business, nothing is guaranteed.”
