What the Dolphins Are Getting With Fangio

Examining Vic Fangio's defenses during his long NFL career as he prepares to take over as Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator

Before he reportedly settled on the Miami Dolphins as his new NFL team, Vic Fangio had a lot of teams interested in his services.

There obviously was a reason for that.

To call Fangio one of the most respected defensive minds in the NFL would not be an overstatement, and his ability to have success at different stops serves as evidence.

Fangio, who officially will become Dolphins defensive coordinator after the Super Bowl, has been in charge of an NFL defense in 22 seasons, including when he was head coach of the Denver Broncos from 2019-21.

His career journey has featured stints as defensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears.

In those 22 seasons, Fangio has produced a top 10 defense a total of nine times spanning his first DC job with the expansion Carolina Panthers and his last NFL full-time job as Broncos head coach.

His defenses have produced 31 Pro Bowl selections, one of which was outside linebacker Bradley Chubb, with was selected with the Broncos in 2020 and with whom Fangio will be reunited in Miami.

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VIC FANGIO'S YEAR-BY-YEAR DEFENSES

Here's a year-by-year rundown of Fangio's defenses:

Denver Broncos Head Coach (2019-21)

2021 Record: 7-10

League ranks: 8 total, 8 pass, 15 run

Pro Bowl selections: None

Stat leaders:

Tackles: SS Kareem Jackson, 88; FS Justin Simmons, 80 ... Sacks: DE Shelby Harris, 6; DE Dre’Mont Jones, 5.5; OLB Malik Reed, 5.0 ... INT: Justin Simmons, 5; Patrick Surtain II, 4

2020 Record: 5-11

League ranks: 21 total, 16 pass, 25 run

Pro Bowl selections: FS Justin Simmons, OLB Bradley Chubb

Stat leaders:

Tackles: ILB Alexander Johnson, 124; ILB Josey Jewell, 113 ... Sacks: OLB Malik Reed, 8.0; OLB Bradley Chubb, 7.5; DE Dre’Mont Jones, 6.5; OLB Jeremiah Attaochu, 5.0 ... INT: FS Justin Simmons, 5

2019 Record: 7-9

League ranks: 12 total, 11 pass, 16 run

Pro Bowl selections: OLB Von Miller

Stat leaders:

Tackles: FS Justin Simmons, 93; ILB Alexander Johnson, 93 ... Sacks: OLB Von Miller, 8.0; DE Derek Wolfe, 7.0; DE Shelby Harris, 6.0 ... INT: Justin Simmons, 4

Chicago Bears Defensive Coordinator (2015-18)

2018 Record: 12-4

League ranks: 3 total, 7 pass, 1 run

Pro Bowl selections: CB Kyle Fuller, SS Eddie Jackson, DE Akiem Hicks, OLB Khalil Mack

Stat leaders:

Tackles: ILB Roquan Smith, 121; ILB Danny Trevathan, 102 ... Sacks: OLB Khalil Mack, 12.5; DE Akiem Hicks, 7.5; ILB Roquan Smith, 5.0 ... INT: CB Kyle Fuller, 7; SS Eddie Jackson, 6

2017 Record: 5-11

League ranks: 10 total, 7 pass, 11 run

Pro Bowl selections: None

Stat leaders:

Tackles: ILB Christian Jones, 90; ILB Danny Trevathan, 89 ... Sacks: DE Akiem Hicks, 8.5 ... INT: Nobody with more than 2

2016 Record: 3-13

League ranks: 15 total, 7 pass, 27 run

Pro Bowl selections: None

Stat leaders:

Tackles: SS Harold Jones-Quartey, 78 ... Sacks: OLB Willie Young, 7.5; DE Akiem Hicks, 7.0; OLB Leonard Floyd, 7.0 ... INT: Nobody with more than 2

2015 Record: 6-10

League ranks: 14 total, 4 pass, 23 run

Pro Bowl selections: None

Stat leaders:

Tackles: ILB Christian Jones, 86; ILB Shea McClellin, 81 ... Sacks: DT Lamarr Houston, 8.0; ILB Willie Young, 6.5; OLB Pernell McPhee, 6.0 ... INT: Nobody with more than 2

San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator (2011-14)

2014 Record: 8-8

League ranks: 5 total, 5 pass, 7 run

Pro Bowl selections: SS Antoine Bethea

Stat leaders:

Tackles: ILB Chris Borland, 108; ILB Michael Wilhoite, 87; SS Antoine Bethea, 86 ... Sacks: OLB Ahmad Brooks, 6.0; DE Aaron Lynch, 6.0; DE Justin Smith, 5.0; OLB Dan Skuta, 5.0 ... INT: CB Perrish Cox, 5; SS Antoine Bethea, 4; CB Chris Culliver, 4

2013 Record: 12-4

League ranks: 5 total, 7 pass, 4 run

Pro Bowl selections: ILB NaVorro Bowman, ILB Patrick Willis, FS Eric Reid, OLB Ahmad Brooks, DE Justin Smith

Stat leaders:

Tackles: ILB NaVorro Bowman, 145; ILB Patrick Willis, 104 ... Sacks: OLB Ahmad Brooks, 8.5; OLB Aldon Smith, 8.5; DE Justin Smith, 6.5; ILB NaVorro Bowman, 5.0 ... INT: CB Tramaine Brock, 5; FS Eric Reid, 4

2012 Record: 11-4-1

League ranks: 3 total, 4 pass, 4 run

Pro Bowl selections: ILB NaVorro Bowman, ILB Patrick Willis, SS Donte Whitner, OLB Aldon Smith, FS Dashon Goldson, DE Justin Smith

Stat leaders:

Tackles: ILB NaVorro Bowman, 148; ILB Patrick Willis, 120; SS Donte Whitner, 82 ... Sacks: OLB Aldon Smith, 19.5; OLB Ahmad Brooks, 6.5 ... INT: FS Dashon Goldson, 3

2011 Record: 13-3

League ranks: 4 total, 16 pass, 1 run

Pro Bowl selections: ILB NaVorro Bowman, ILB Patrick Willis, FS Dashon Goldson, RDE Justin Smith, CB Carlos Rogers

Stat leaders:

Tackles: ILB NaVorro Bowman, 143; ILB Patrick Willis, 97 ... Sacks: DE Aldon Smith, 14.0; DE Justin Smith, 7.5; OLB Ahmad Brooks, 7.0; DE Ray McDonald, 5.5 ... INT: FS Dashon Goldson, 6; CB Carlos Rogers, 6; CB Tarell Brown, 4

Houston Texans Defensive Coordinator (2002-05)

2005 Record: 2-14

League ranks: 31 total, 24 pass, 32 run

Pro Bowl selections: None

Stat leaders:

Tackles: ILB Morlon Greenwood, 112; ILB DaShon Polk, 94 ... Sacks: OLB Shantee Orr, 7.0; OLB Antwan Peek, 6.0 ... INT: Nobody with more than 2

2004 Record: 7-9

League ranks: 23 total, 24 pass, 13 run

Pro Bowl selections: None

Stat leaders:

Tackles: ILB Jamie Sharper, 139; CB Dunta Robinson, 88 ... Sacks: OLB Kailee Wong, 5.5 ... INT: CB Dunta Robinson, 6; CB Aaron Glenn, 5

2003 Record: 5-11

League ranks: 31 total, 31 pass, 31 run

Pro Bowl selections: None

Stat leaders:

Tackles: ILB Jamie Sharper, 166; ILB Jay Foreman, 136; SS Eric Brown, 98 ... Sacks: Nobody with more than 4 ... INT: CB Marcus Coleman, 7; CB Kenny Wright, 3

2002 Record: 4-12

League ranks: 16 total, 10 pass, 28 run

Pro Bowl selections: CB Aaron Glenn, DE Gary Walker

Stat leaders:

Tackles: ILB Jamie Sharper, 137; FS Matt Stevens, 84 ... Sacks: OLB Jeff Posey, 8.0; DE Gary Walker, 6.5; ILB Jamie Sharper, 5.5; OLB Kailee Wong, 5.5 ... INT: CB Aaron Glenn, 5

Indianapolis Colts Defensive Coordinator (1999-2001)

2001 Record: 6-10

League ranks: 29 total, 27 pass, 25 run

Pro Bowl selections: None

Stat leaders:

Tackles: MLB Rob Morris, 114; LLB Marcus Washington, 95; SS Chad Cota, 94 ... Sacks: DE Chad Bratzke, 8.5; LLB Marcus Washington, 8.0; DE Chukie Nwokorie, 5.0 ... INT: CB David Macklin, 3; CB Jeff Burris, 3

2000 Record: 10-6

League ranks: 21 total, 18 pass, 25 run

Pro Bowl selections: None

Stat leaders:

Tackles: RLB Mike Peterson, 160; FS Jason Belser, 96; SS Chad Cota, 87; MLB Dwight Hollier, 87 ... Sacks: DE Chad Bratzke, 7.5; FS Jason Belser, 5.0; DT Ellis Johnson, 5.0; DE Mark Thomas, 5.0 ... INT: CB Jeff Burris, 4

1999 Record: 13-3

League ranks: 15 total, 19 pass, 18 run

Pro Bowl selections: None

Stat leaders:

Tackles: RLB Mike Peterson, 105; LLB Cornelius Bennett, 105 ... Sacks: DE Chad Bratzke, 12.0; DT Ellis Johnson, 7.5; LLB Cornelius Bennett, 5.0 ... INT: Tyrone Poole, 3

Carolina Panthers Defensive Coordinator (1995-98)

1998 Record: 4-12

League ranks: 30 total, 28 pass, 26 run

Pro Bowl selections: LOLB Kevin Greene

Stat leaders:

Tackles: RILB Micheal Barrow, 129; LILB Jeff Brady, 104; FS Brent Alexander, 97 ... Sacks: LOLB Kevin Greene, 15.0; RDE Sean Gilbert, 6.0 ... INT: CB Eric Davis, 5; LILB Jeff Brady, 4

1997 Record: 7-9

League ranks: 15 total, 9 pass, 22 run

Pro Bowl selections: None

Stat leaders:

Tackles: SS Chad Cota, 117; LILB Sam Mills, 99; LOLB Micheal Barrow, 89 ... Sacks: LOLB Micheal Barrow, 8.5; LDE Les Miller, 5.5; RILB Andre Royal, 5.0 ... INT: CB Eric Davis, 5

1996 Record: 12-4

League ranks: 10 total, 12 pass, 8 run

Pro Bowl selections: LILB Sam Mills, ROLB Lamar Lathon, LCB Eric Davis, LOLB Kevin Greene

Stat leaders:

Tackles: LILB Sam Mills, 122 ... Sacks: LOLB Kevin Greene, 14.5; ROLB Lamar Lathon, 13.5; LILB Sam Mills, 5.5 ... INT: SS Chad Cota, 5; CB Eric Davis, 5; DB Toi Cook, 3; FS Pat Terrell, 3

1995 Record: 7-9

League ranks: 7 total, 14 pass, 10 run

Pro Bowl selections: None

Stat leaders:

Tackles: LILB Sam Mills, 110; RILB Carlton Bailey, 99; SS Brett Maxie, 89 ... Sacks: LOLB Lamar Lathon, 8.0; ROLB Darion Conner, 7.0 ... INT: SS Brett Maxie, 6; LILB Sam Mills 5; CB Tim McKyer, 3; FS Pat Terrell, 3

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