The Miami Dolphins’ coaching staff on the defensive side of the ball is going to look a little different in 2024. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who held the position for one season, agreed to part ways with the organization just under two weeks ago.
He landed with the Philadelphia Eagles, taking over as their defensive coordinator. It was a team who coveted him as he spent the 2022 campaign as a consultant with the team and they found a ton of success on defense.
In need of a new defensive coordinator, the Dolphins have opted to give someone their first crack in their coaching career at the position. Miami hired Anthony Weaver away from the Baltimore Ravens to join their staff.
NFL News & Rumors: Anthony Weaver, Vic Fangio, Miami Dolphins Updates
Weaver had been with the Ravens since 2021, most recently serving as defensive line coach and associate head coach. He spent part of his seven-year career in the NFL with Baltimore, so it was a natural fit coaching-wise.
A coach in the NFL since 2012, Weaver has spent most of his time as a defensive line coach, also working with the Houston Texans, New York Jets and Buffalo Bills. The Dolphins are giving him his first opportunity to oversee an entire defensive unit.
Last offseason, the Dolphins made a concerted effort to upgrade on defense. It paid off, as Weaver is inheriting a unit that ranked 10th in yards allowed per game and seventh in rushing yards allowed this past season.
Stopping the run is something Weaver has excelled at in his career. The Ravens were a notoriously stingy team against the run during his time with the team, allowing the third-fewest rushing yards since 2021.
But, the Dolphins’ defensive unit could look a little different in 2024 than it did in 2023. Emerging edge rusher Jalean Phillips will be recovering from an Achilles injury and could miss the start of the season.
NFL News & Rumors: Anthony Weaver, Vic Fangio, Miami Dolphins Updates
Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel and safety DeShon Elliott are all free agents. There is also a chance that Xavien Howard will be moved on from this offseason as well.
That is a lot of firepower that could be gone this offseason, but Weaver has a proven track record of getting the job done. The numbers speak for themself and whenever you can add a person from a great Ravens staff, it should be considered a win.
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