The Philadelphia Eagles have avoided a nightmare coaching scenario — at least, for now.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio recently informed the team that he was retiring before being convinced to stay for at least the 2026 season, according to a Sunday morning report from PhillyVoice’s Jimmy Kempski.
So for now, Fangio is staying. But that doesn’t mean the 67-year-old can’t change his mind.
If he changes his mind again, it seems his top replacement is no longer available.
According to PhillyVoice, in between Fangio’s short-lived retirement and his “for now” decision to return, the Eagles reached out to former Eagles DC Jonathan Gannon to gauge his interest in returning.
Gannon, who was fired as the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach after the regular season, was hired last week as the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator.
The Eagles were also planning to check on the availability of Cleveland Browns DC Jim Schwartz, according to PhillyVoice. The former Eagles DC was passed over for the Browns’ head-coaching gig, which went to former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
Losing Fangio would be a devastating blow to the Eagles. He joined ahead of the 2024 season and was instrumental in Philadelphia’s Super Bowl LIX run and victory.
Fangio’s defense was one of the best in the league again in 2025. It was the offense’s failures that doomed the Eagles throughout the season and led to an early playoff exit.
The Eagles already lost defensive backs coach Christian Parker to their NFC East rival. Parker, a rising star in the coaching industry, was hired as the Dallas Cowboys’ DC.
It sounds like the Eagles won’t lose Fangio. But if they were, it would be a significant setback at this stage in the coaching carousel.