While the Denver Broncos continue their search for a new head coach, each of the last two men who have held that post has found new work.
Last week, the New York Jets hired Nathaniel Hackett to be the team’s new offensive coordinator. On Sunday, news broke that the Miami Dolphins have agreed to a deal with Vic Fangio to become the team’s new defensive coordinator.
The deal will make Fangio the highest-paid coordinator in the league.
After being fired as head coach of the Broncos following a 19-30 record in three seasons, Fangio served as a defensive consultant for the Philadelphia Eagles this season. He was connected to the Dolphins several weeks ago and will now serve on the staff of Mike McDaniel, who took the Dolphins to the playoffs as a rookie head coach.
He will take over for Josh Boyer, who the team parted ways with following their playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The last three coaches of the Broncos have now all found work in the league (Vance Joseph is defensive coordinator in Arizona).
For Fangio, the Dolphins will be the tenth NFL team that he has worked for during his long and storied career in which he is widely regarded as one of the best defensive minds of all time. Though things did not work out for him in Denver, this will be largely received as a fabulous move for a growing Dolphins franchise.
As for the Broncos, the team continues its focus on finding its next head coach. Some news came out on Saturday night that Greg Penner had a face-to-face meeting with Jim Harbaugh in Ann Arbor, to see if he could change his mind about returning to the league.
The team will also have a close eye on what happens in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday as San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans figures to be one of the top candidates on the Broncos’ list.