Some things aren't meant to last.
When the Dolphins scored Vic Fangio as their new defensive coordinator ahead of the 2023 season, the belief was that the longtime coach would deliver a defense on par with Miami's high-octane offense.
A unit beset by injuries instead finished 22nd in points allowed, after which Fangio and the Fins mutually agreed to a separation neither party initially saw coming.
"In regard to the defensive coordinator transition this offseason, I'd be lying if I said I was expecting that during the season at all," head coach Mike McDaniel said on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine, per the team transcript. "I think Vic would feel similarly. What happened was basically, I think it's important when the season ends for you to remove emotion and evaluate and have very, very good conversations with all people that you're depending on. With Vic and I, we had extensive conversations that were very healthy.
"Ultimately, when push came to shove, it seemed like we both had the opportunity and it'd be best for both parties involved to literally, mutually part. So it wasn't anticipated. It was something that I think was a factor of great communication between him and I, where we feel like we're all best served if we go a different direction, which is something that we had mutual belief. I'm excited for both parties moving forward."
It might have been difficult to predict in-season.
Fangio has been so good for so long, with eight top-10 scoring defenses across his last 11 years (with three different teams) as a coordinator or head coach before joining the Dolphins. Plus, even while giving up points, his group of walking wounded still ranked 10th in yards allowed.
But once dominos started falling after the season, a
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