The Miami Dolphins saw their 2023 defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, win a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles. With how the Dolphins’ 2023 season ended, Fangio and the Dolphins parting ways, the Eagles‘ defensive performance in 2024 came as a surprise.
During an interview on Sports Radio 94 WIP, Eagles safety Reed Blankenship was asked what it’s like being coached by Fangio. His answer was a subtle jab at the Dolphins players who complained about Fangio from the 2023 season.
“I’ve never had a problem with him.” Blankenship said. “Whatever was said in Miami, that’s their locker room. Our locker room is completely different, I believe in my opinion. We’ve got guys that like to be coached and like to be held accountable, and obviously that shows on the field.”
Blankenship’s comments indirectly paint the Dolphins, who complained about Fangio, as players who don’t like to be coached hard or held accountable. That subtle jab stings more, since the Eagles’ defense, led by Fangio, was one of the best units in the NFL in 2024.
Dolphins defensive backs Cam Smith and Jevon Holland shared posts on social media, essentially celebrating Fangio’s departure following the 2023 season.
Holland posted a video of him kicking rocks shortly after Fangio left, and Smith posted an emoji, signifying he’ll be unlocked following Fangio’s departure.
Neither Smith nor Holland was the only source to showcase that the Dolphins’ players weren’t upset at Fangio departing for Philadelphia.
His former players celebrated Fangio’s departure, and things were heightened after Drew Rosenhaus, in a comment to Miami Fox affiliate WSVN-Channel 7, claimed multiple Dolphins players didn’t get along with Fangio.
The Dolphins players weren’t big fans of Fangio. Holland, Smith, and other Dolphins players were “celebrating” his departure.
The Dolphins’ defense, led by Fangio, was the 10th-best unit by yards allowed. They allowed the seventh fewest yards in the run game as well. But, they also allowed the 11th most points, and the seventh most passing touchdowns.
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio at a press conference at the PSD Bank Arena.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
While not a terrible unit defensively, the Dolphins’ 2023 season didn’t go as well as the team had hoped. Finishing 11-6, the Dolphins made the playoffs, but were bounced after Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins couldn’t beat the Kansas City Chiefs.
Blankenship’s subtle jab at the Dolphins players comes in defense of his defensive coordinator. With how Blankenship and the Eagles performed under Fangio, it’s easy for him to question the Dolphins players for not replicating the Eagles’ success with Fangio.
His comments called out the Dolphins players after Fangio’s departure. He essentially said the Dolphins players don’t like to be coached, nor do they like to be held accountable.
