Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is considered one of the great defensive minds in the NFL over the last decade-plus and has made a significant impact on players and his assistants.
Fangio saw his defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator, Christian Parker, depart the Eagles for the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator role this offseason. Parker was introduced as the defensive coordinator and was asked by the media about the impact that Fangio has had on him.
“I don’t know if we have enough time for me to explain all that, to be honest with you," Parker said. "Just fundamentally what he believes in, how he coaches, his consistency in his approach. He’s done this for so long but he’s always evolved, he’s always a step ahead. He studies everything around the league in the offseason. He coaches the coaches, but he also gives you the latitude to be responsible for your area. And he’s great. I’ve learned so much from him. I don’t know if we have enough time for me to really get into all that. But he’s significantly changed my career.”
Christian Parker shares his appreciation for Vic Fangio
While Eagles fans are bitter that Parker decided to join the enemy, no one can blame him for taking the defensive coordinator job with the Cowboys, as it was a huge promotion. Parker was directly responsible for turning cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell into All-Pros in just two years in the NFL.
It's no surprise to hear the kind words about Fangio, as many coaches and players have credited him with the success they have had in their careers. Fangio has coached some of the best defenses in the NFL over the last 10 years, including the great 2018 Chicago Bears unit and the 2024 Eagles defense that won the Super Bowl.
There were some tough moments last season for the Eagles' defense, as they couldn't consistently sack the quarterback through the first half of the year. Fangio made the adjustments and pushed the team to trade for edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, resulting in a turnaround that saw Philly finish in the top 10 in points allowed and remain in the top 15 in yards allowed. His work in 2025 earned him a nomination for Assistant Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.
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The last two years should be evidence enough to see why the Eagles begged him not to retire and come back for one more season. Fangio is one of a kind and one of the best assistant coaches in the league.