ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Vic Fangio will be joining the Miami Dolphins as their defensive coordinator after all. It was something that was reported earlier in the week. However, the coach denied that anything was official, leading to speculation that he awaited news of the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator job opening up.
After speaking with multiple teams about their defensive coordinator position, Vic Fangio has decided to join the Dolphins as their defensive coordinator and officially will accept the position on the Miami staff after the Super Bowl.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 2, 2023
It did. This week, the Houston Texans hired DeMeco Ryans as their new head coach, leaving the 49ers searching for his replacement. Unfortunately, that won't be Fangio.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports that head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke with Fangio about replacing Ryans, which was assumed when Fangio's name surfaced as a candidate to join the 49ers' staff.
Kyle Shanahan spoke with Vic Fangio about replacing DeMeco Ryans as #49ers defensive coordinator. The other known candidates at this time are former Panthers interim HC coach Steve Wilks and Commanders DBs coach Chris Harris. https://t.co/hcQKXVIS3a
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) February 2, 2023
On Wednesday, Shanahan was asked what he is looking for in a new defensive coordinator.
"I love our defensive staff. I love our defense," Shanahan said. "I'm trying to get something where we don't have to turn much over. I would love to keep our same staff, so I'm going to talk to some guys on our staff. I'm going to talk to some guys outside of our staff, and hopefully, whichever way we decide to go, whether we bring in a new guy or not, that it's someone who can work with who we have and what we've accomplished here because I love the scheme that we run.
"And I feel the foundation we have on the D-line, at linebacker, at corner, at safety, I think our players fit very well in it too, so I'm hoping to find someone who fits with us personality-wise and scheme-wise."
Maybe Fangio didn't fit what Shanahan wanted to do. Or perhaps the Dolphins simply outbid the 49ers. Whatever the reason, San Francisco's search continues. They have requested permission to interview Carolina Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks and Washington Commanders defensive backs coach Chris Harris about their defensive coordinator vacancy.