These Dolphins do not appear to be saddened by Vic Fangio’s departure.
Following Wednesday’s shocking announcement that Fangio would not be returning as the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator after one season, despite having two years remaining on his contract, safety Jevon Holland, cornerback Cam Smith, and former Dolphins safety Trill Williams all celebrated the move on social media.
Holland, a third-year footballer, shared a video on Instagram Story of him kicking rocks into the street.
That clip requires minimal explanation.
Holland’s father, Robert, then addressed the issue further.
“Everybody loves the IPhone but nobody wants the IPhone #1. #Upgrade,” he wrote on Twitter.
Smith, a second-round rookie, responded to the news by tweeting an unlocked lock.
Williams, who was grabbed off waivers by the Dolphins in May 2021 and released before the season began in August 2023, then quote-tweeted Smith’s message with a GIF that appeared to indicate he supported the Dolphins’ new strategy.
These reactions essentially show that the Dolphins’ defense did not have a perfect season.
Fangio is recognized as one of football’s top defensive minds, but it appears that his techniques irritated several of Miami’s players, particularly those in the secondary.
“There were quite a few players on the team that didn’t necessarily get along with Fangio,” NFL super agent Drew Rosenhaus, who represents numerous Dolphins players, told Miami sportscaster Josh Moser. “There wasn’t a good relationship with many of the guys. Some guys loved him, but many others didn’t. It wasn’t a completely positive connection.
Smith was purportedly one of those players, with Pro Football Network alleging that the 23-year-old was sent to Fangio’s “doghouse” and then scarcely played despite the team’s ailments.
Under Fangio, the Dolphins ranked 22nd in scoring defense, allowing 23 points per game, but 10th in yards allowed per game (318.3 yards).
“Our sense is that he, at times, didn’t relate to some of his players,” said Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network. “He made some controversial coaching judgments.
Fangio is now set to land with the Eagles as their next defensive coordinator, according to ESPN.
With Fangio departing South Florida, the Dolphins could potentially be in the mix for former Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, who parted ways with the team earlier this month after two seasons.
“When we assessed the season, it became apparent that this was the best path forward for all parties involved,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday in a statement. “Now, we turn our focus to 2024 and beyond with urgency as we identify the best candidate to lead our defensive moving forward.
“We remain steadfastly committed to the development of our players and to building a winning team with sustained success.”
The Dolphins reached the wild-card round of the playoffs before losing to the Chiefs, 26-7.
