Latest news with #VicFangio
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vic Fangio hints at Cooper DeJean playing safety and outside CB to ensure the most snaps
Cooper DeJean was a primary reason the Eagles only lost one game after the Week 5 bye, and the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist is already one of the most versatile defenders in the NFL. After Philadelphia saw Darius Slay (Steelers), Isaiah Rodgers (Vikings), Avonte Maddox (Lions), and James Bradberry (UFA) all exit, there was talk of DeJean moving to the outside cornerback spot opposite Quinyon Mitchell. Back in April, before the NFL draft, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio told John Clark of NBC Sports that DeJean would remain in the slot. 'I really like him as the nickel. I'd like to see him stay at nickel. He plays it very well. He's got good size in there. I think he enjoys playing in that position.' Advertisement The news means Kelee Ringo, Adoree' Jackson, and Eli Ricks will be among the early contenders to win a competition. On Tuesday, during the start of Week 2 of the Eagles' OTAs, DeJean lined up at multiple positions after Fangio confirmed he'd play outside cornerback and safety to ensure he was on the field for the most snaps. We can confirm that DeJean took snaps at all three cornerback spots, as well as snaps at safety on Tuesday. DeJean logged 51 tackles (38 solo) as a rookie, including 0.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries across 16 regular-season games in 2024. DeJean's biggest and best moment came in Super Bowl LIX against the Chiefs, when he picked off Patrick Mahomes for a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown on his birthday. This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Cooper DeJean to play several positions in 2025 to ensure key snaps
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sights and sounds from Day 5 of Philadelphia Eagles OTAs
After celebrating Saquon Barkley's 'Madden NFL 26' cover, the Eagles returned to the NovaCare Complex practice field for session five of OTAs. The media in attendance is on high alert, as Vic Fangio hinted at Cooper DeJean being a jack of all trades, and Jihaad Campbell not taking the practice field until August at the earliest. Philadelphia will have one more voluntary session on Thursday afternoon, before a Mandatory mini-camp on Tuesday, June 10. Advertisement With practice underway, we're looking at sights and sounds from Tuesday's session. This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Highlights and notes from Day 5 of Philadelphia Eagles OTAs
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Nolan Smith earns national nod as under-the-radar Eagles star worth watching
Nolan Smith earns national nod as under-the-radar Eagles star worth watching Nolan Smith lands on a list of NFL rising stars as the excitement for his third year keeps building. This country has become, in some ways, a microwave society. No one wants to wait for anything. No one has any patience. People want results, and they want them faster than they once did. Sports only fuel that, especially among one of the NFL's most passionate (and notoriously zany fan bases), one belonging to the Philadelphia Eagles. Nolan Smith was the 30th player taken during Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft. He spent most of his time playing on special teams as a rookie. Much of the reason for that was that he sat behind Haason Reddick on the depth chart, who, at that time, was still playing at an elite level. No one cared about that. 'Nolan Smith is a bust.' That was an opinion shared by much of the Eagles contingent. Remember... This is a microwave society. But a chain reaction occurred. Philadelphia hired Vic Fangio as its defensive coordinator. Nolan Smith is no longer a secret weapon after his latest national praise Year two for Nolan Smith finally delivered to Birds fans what they had hoped for since the announcement of his selection on April 27, 2023. He had gone from a special-teams player to starting ten of 16 in-game appearances during the regular season. His 188 defensive snaps were roughly 16% of the Eagles' total in 2023. He churned out 546 a season ago, suitable for 55% of the total a year later. The results speak for themselves. During the 2024-25 NFL regular season, Nolan stacked 42 tackles, 6.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble. The momentum carried into the playoffs, and he got better, churning out 16 tackles, four sacks, and another forced fumble. His four sacks and four tackles for loss both led all players in the postseason. Nolan started every game of Philadelphia's march to Super Bowl glory. Now comes the question. What does he do for an encore? CBS Sports' Garrett Podell is expecting more fireworks. Smith was named as the one player from the Eagles' roster who could make a surprising impact. "Smith flashed in the 2024 playoffs, co-leading the league in sacks (4) while ranking second in quarterback pressures (19) behind only Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (22)... Following edge rusher Josh Sweat's departure to the Arizona Cardinals and edge rusher Brandon Graham's retirement, Smith is an unquestioned starter for the first time entering his third NFL season. He now has a chance to transform from a player with tantalizing potential to a real star in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's scheme in 2025." It's hard to disagree with the sentiment. Vic Fangio has unlocked something. There's a lot of talent here. Might Coach Fangio find more ways to deploy him? Eagles legend Brandon Graham offered some brotherly advice. Nolan took it to heart. He has made the most of an expanded role. Let this be a lesson to those of you who were a little impatient. Quarterbacks aren't the only players who need reps and a little patience.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles Defense Shows Difference To True Title Contenders
Eagles Defense Shows Difference To True Title Contenders originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has been around the NFL for a long time. As a former head coach of the Denver Broncos and defensive coordinator for multiple teams, he has seen changes in the way the game is played, and the way athletes react to certain levels of coaching. Advertisement Sometimes, those changes don't exactly fit with his style. Take his lone season with the Miami Dolphins as an example. Fangio was brought in to assist a very talented defensive room with All-Pro guys at each level. But … Despite some statistical success, his tenure only lasted a single season with many Dolphin players chastising the coach for his "old school" ways of coaching. Things changed drastically once he was hired by the Eagles last offseason. Instead of having veterans blinded by egos, Fangio joined a defense that was only interested in getting better. That is exactly what happened, too. And Philadelphia's players, unlike several stars in Miami, have nothing but great things to say about their coach. Advertisement "Whatever was said in Miami, that's their locker room. Our locker room is completely different," starting safety Reed Blankenship said. "We've got guys that liked to be coached and like to be held accountable and obviously that shows on the field. We're a young group, but we understand if we want to win the big things we've got to be coached hard." Blankenship's comments shouldn't be overlooked. During his time in Miami, Fangio joined a defense with already established stars. His way of coaching and teaching didn't jive with players who did things a certain way to a level of success. In Philly, they have fielded one of the youngest defensive groups in the league over the last two seasons. They needed that hard coaching. And along the way, they caught a level of excellence with Fangio that many of Miami's stars could only dream of. Related: Eagles Running Game Plan Takes New Shape In Roster Move This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
C.J. Gardner-Johnson claps back at Vic Fangio's comment that Eagles traded DB for salary cap reasons
Texans defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson took to social media Wednesday to respond to a comment his former coach and current Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio made regarding Philadelphia's decision to trade Gardner-Johnson to Houston. The Eagles received offensive guard Kenyon Green and a 2026 fifth-round selection in the exchange, while the Texans also added a 2026 sixth-round pick. When asked about the trade during OTAs on Tuesday, Fangio called it 'a salary cap thing.' Advertisement 'Howie (Roseman, Eagles GM) made that decision. I was fine with it,' he added. Gardner-Johnson reposted a graphic featuring the quote to his Instagram story and added text that read, 'Just don't do them young guys like y'all did me.' He also included a 100 emoji and a flexed bicep emoji. Gardner-Johnson had signed a three-year, $27 million deal with the Eagles in 2024 and put up solid numbers in Philadelphia's Super Bowl-winning season: Six interceptions with one returned for a touchdown, 12 pass breakups, one forced fumble and 59 tackles. But the 27-year-old also has a reputation for getting under other players' skin. In 2024, he was voted the most annoying player in The Athletic's anonymous NFL player poll after taking the title of 'biggest trash talker' in the 2023 poll. Before landing with the Texans, Gardner-Johnson made stops with three other teams. His longest was a three-year stint with the New Orleans Saints from 2019-2021. He played for the Eagles in 2022 and bounced back to Philadelphia in 2024 after a single season with the Detroit Lions sandwiched in between. He has 18 career interceptions, 51 pass breakups and 304 tackles. The Eagles and Texans do not meet in the regular season in 2025.
