Philadelphia Eagles Didn't Give Away 'All The Secrets' to Miami Dolphins' Vic Fangio Last Year
PHILADELPHIA – As if the Philadelphia Eagles didn’t have enough to worry about as they prepare for a Miami Dolphins team that leads the NFL in just about every offensive category, does Vic Fangio’s presence as the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator add another layer of worry for Sunday night's matchup at Lincoln Financial Field.
Fangio has some intimate knowledge of both the Eagles’ offense and defense. He was never on staff last year, but he was on speed dial for then-defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, who picked his brain on a mostly weekly basis, and he was hired as a consultant to offer ideas on the Eagles’ defense during the two-week prep for Super Bowl LVII.
Heck, this guy even grew up in Dunmore, a small town several hours northeast of Philadelphia, rooting for all four of the city’s pro teams. He was a former coach of the Philadelphia Stars, too.
You could say Fangio is Philly.
“I grew up a Philadelphia fan in all sports, diehard, used to when the Phillies were on the West Coast and it'd be late at night, I had a transistor radio in my bed and listened to the game on the radio (with) Richie Ashburn,” he said.
“So, I was a diehard Phillies fan and Eagles fan growing up and got my first job in pro football there back in the USFL with the Philadelphia Stars. And so Philly has a special place to me."
Head coach Nick Sirianni is hoping Fangio’s love for Philly sports will work in the Eagles' favor.
“(Fangio is a) huge Phillies fan,” Sirianni said. “I'm hoping he's a little distracted. But a really good person. Really good coach. Value the friendship that we have and the time that we spent together last year.”
Vic Fangio
USA Today
The Phillies, of course, may have already qualified for the World Series by the time the Eagles and Dolphins meet after taking a 2-0 lead in the NLCS on Tuesday.
Fangio isn’t letting this game take on any more significance than it already has, with a pair of 5-1 teams taking to the nationally televised stage on Sunday night.
"No, it's one of 17,” he said. “You know, it's no different than our last two games, in that it's an NFC opponent. So, the weight on the schedule and standings is the same. It just happens to be being played on a bigger stage on Sunday night. But in the final analysis, it's game seven of 17."
As for his knowledge of the Eagles being beneficial to the Dolphins, neither he nor Sirianni believe that’s the case.
“We didn't give him all the secrets,” said Sirianni. “I asked him for his help. He was giving us information, and not us giving him information.”
Fangio echoed that.
“I was giving them more information than they were giving me,” he said. “You know, it's kind of the way it turned out. So if there's any advantage to be had, by me being there last year, it's in their favor."
Fangio is very familiar, though with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ vaunted – when healthy – offensive line and running attack.
On Hurts, Fangio said: “He has no weaknesses. You know, so that's a strength. And I've always liked him. I told how Howie back in (20)21 he had his quarterback. Very strong. Obviously, his running ability is you know, tops, gives them an extra guy in the run game, makes it hard to defend. Excellent scrambler, great leader. You know, it's hard to find fault with him."
He also detailed the challenges that Philly's ground game presents.
“Very challenging. First off, you start with their offensive line. And they got really good players in the O-line, it's probably the best offensive line in the league from a talent standpoint. They got size, experience, continuity.
“… extremely well coached by Jeff Stoutland. They got a good slew of backs that they running back by committee. And then you throw in the oh, by the way, the quarterback might keep it and run it himself.”
How much all that will help the Dolphins – or not – will play out on Sunday.
