Eagles Must Consider Vic Fangio’s Uncertain Future With Upcoming Moves
Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is one of, if not, the best coordinators in the NFL. Yet Fangio will turn 68-years old in August and has contemplated retirement in back-to-back years. Therefore, the Eagles must consider Fangio’s uncertain future while making key decisions this offseason.
Fangio was born in Dunmore, Pennsylvania and has coached in the NFL for nearly half of his life. It seems like Fangio would be perfectly content hanging up his headset, remaining close to home and enjoying season tickets to watch his beloved Philadelphia Phillies.
After the Eagles won Super Bowl LIX, Fangio reportedly discussed retirement but ultimately decided to run it back. Following Philadelphia’s disappointing season-ending loss in the Wild Card Round, things took a far more serious turn. Fangio was weighing retirement once again, yet this time it seemed like he had both feet out of the doors to the Jefferson Health Training Complex.
Adam Schefter of ESPN teased the idea of unexpected Eagles news on 97.5 The Fanatic ahead of the speculation surrounding Fangio’s future. Multiple X users (including @TempDaddy and @PhillyPMC) also shared similar information as Fangio was truly on the fence about returning to Philadelphia. Yet the Eagles were somehow able to convince Fangio to return in 2026.
After watching legendary offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland unexpectedly step away from the Eagles earlier this offseason, Philadelphia can’t afford to be unprepared if Fangio opts to do so in 2027. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman threw several darts along the offensive line during day three of the 2025 NFL Draft, likely expecting that Stoutland University would be operating for the foreseeable future in the City of Brotherly Love.
Yet that obviously isn’t the case now as the Eagles are attempting to install a new offensive scheme and will be without one of the best talent developers in the NFL. If Roseman believes that Fangio won’t be Philadelphia’s defensive coordinator beyond this upcoming season, he’ll have to walk a tightrope while navigating both free agency and the NFL Draft this offseason.
We have already seen several members of Fangio’s defensive staff leave Philadelphia for opportunities elsewhere this offseason. Christian Parker is now the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator. Ronell Williams is now the Las Vegas Raiders linebackers coach. Tyler Yelk is now Nebraska’s safeties coach. Did these coaches simply leave for promotions or could they see the writing on the wall with Fangio’s future? I guess we’ll never truly know.
There was also a report from Jimmy Kempski of Philly Voice that the Eagles were discussing both Jim Schwartz and Jonathan Gannon as potential replacements for Fangio, if he retired this offseason. Fast forward to late February and while Gannon has accepted a job as the Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator, Schwartz has curiously resigned as the Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator and will sit out this upcoming season.
Could Schwartz be sitting out this season so that he can eventually replace Fangio as Philadelphia’s defensive coordinator in 2027? I guess we’ll find out a year from now. But if that’s even a possibility, Roseman will have to factor that into his decision making this offseason since the defensive schemes that Fangio and Schwartz run are drastically different.
Philadelphia’s biggest free agent this offseason will be edge rusher Jaelan Phillips. After the Eagles traded a 2026 third-round pick for Phillips, he led Philadelphia’s edge rusher rotation in snaps played, as he was clearly one of Fangio’s favorite players. Yet should the Eagles sign Phillips to a massive, multi-year contract extension if Fangio won’t be returning in 2027? Roseman will ultimately have to make that decision.
Phillips is currently ranked as one of the top free agents available this offseason. The soon-to-be 27-year-old edge rusher appears to be an ascending player, yet his lengthy injury history could impact his market. Regardless of those concerns, many expect Phillips to sign a contact that exceeds $20 million per year in free agency.
If Phillips lands a multi-year deal in that range, it’s fair to wonder if the Eagles will walk away. While Phillips is an ideal fit for Fangio’s defensive scheme, he may not be viewed the same way in Schwartz’s defensive scheme. Therefore, if the Eagles are unsure about Fangio’s future, how can they commit so much money to a player that may not even fit the team’s defense in 2027?
While Phillips should have a healthy market in free agency, he could return to Philadelphia on a one-year deal to rebuild his value, if he doesn’t receive the offers expected from elsewhere. If the Eagles don’t re-sign Phillips, there will be other options available that make sense at edge rusher in Fangio’s scheme.
Bradley Chubb is a player that stands out given his experience working under Fangio with both the Denver Broncos and the Miami Dolphins. The 29-year-old edge rusher may not have the same market that Phillips is expected to have and could be more willing to sign a one-year deal to reunite with Fangio in what could be his final season as a coach in the NFL.
Free agency won’t be the only area where Roseman must factor in Fangio’s uncertain future. The Eagles must tread lightly during the 2026 NFL Draft as they potentially look to add more pieces to Philadelphia’s defense, for both this upcoming season and the next several years.
For example, would the Eagles have drafted edge rusher Jalyx Hunt in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft if Fangio’s future was uncertain at the time? Probably not. Hunt is a uniquely talented player that is a perfect fit in Fangio’s defensive scheme due to his size, athleticism and versatility. While Hunt certainly has the potential to succeed in any defensive scheme, Philadelphia may not have selected him where they did if it wasn’t for Fangio’s presence.
The same goes for Philadelphia’s first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, linebacker Jihaad Campbell. Everyone has likely seen Fangio’s reaction to Roseman telling him that the Eagles selected Campbell. Fangio’s face lit up like a Christmas tree since Campbell is a perfect fit for his defensive scheme. Campbell has a unique skillset that allows Fangio to deploy him both on the edge and as an off-ball linebacker, similar to what he unlocked with Zack Baun in 2024.
While Roseman has spoiled Fangio with unique, scheme-specific players in recent years of the NFL Draft, he may have to be careful doing so this offseason. It truly seemed like Fangio was going to retire and it’s hard to assume that he’ll be back in 2027. The Eagles will have to find a balance between giving Fangio the tools necessary to succeed this upcoming season, while also building for a potentially entirely new defensive scheme in the near future. Luckily, that’s way above my pay grade.