Sports
Vic Fangio - English
The Philadelphia Eagles are quietly evolving their secondary following the high-profile departure of safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans.
Under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the team is exploring creative uses of their defensive backs – and one player stands at the center: second-year cornerback Cooper DeJean.
Patrick Mahomes played the high school game of his life tossing perfect passes to kids on the field
With Gardner-Johnson gone, the Eagles face a decision not just on replacements, but on how best to deploy their most versatile defenders. Fangio has indicated that DeJean could become a key chess piece, potentially filling roles beyond the slot corner position.
Fangio offered a glimpse into his thinking during NFL minicamp when he dropped a hint about DeJean’s future role: “We’d like to keep him at nickel. And then in our base package, we’ll find a spot for him either at corner or safety.”
The comment confirms what many expect: Philadelphia intends to keep its best players on the field as often as possible – but now with more positional flexibility.
Fangio hints to the future
In a follow-up remark, Fangio acknowledged the circumstances around acquiring DeJean’s former teammate: “Trading C.J. Gardner-Johnson was a salary-cap decision from Howie Roseman, and Vic says he was fine with it.”
With Gardner-Johnson gone, Fangio sees DeJean and other young defensive backs stepping into larger roles-a fitting response to both the loss and the team’s long-term defensive vision.
DeJean impressed during his rookie season, operating primarily as a nickel corner and even scoring a pick-six in Super Bowl LIX. His ability to handle running back matchups and tight coverage assignments has not gone unnoticed.
Fangio’s approach is tactical: In nickel situations – 80.5 percent of Eagles defensive snaps – DeJean remains the primary option. For the smaller base defense packages (used sparingly), shifting him to safety allows Philadelphia to deploy its best athletes without sacrificing coverage talent.
That flexibility is crucial with Gardner-Johnson gone, and it reflects Fangio’s reputation as a defensive schemer who maximizes personnel versatility.
What this flexibility means for the Eagles in 2025
Philadelphia’s evolving secondary is representative of larger offseason shifts. Losing veteran leaders like Gardner-Johnson means the team must lean on youth and adaptability.
Fangio has praised the depth of younger options like Sydney Brown and Andrew Mukuba, alongside newcomers in positions like corner (Adoree’ Jackson) and edge rusher. DeJean, however, stands out given his draft pedigree and rapid impact under center.
Rather than shoehorn him into a fixed role, the Eagles are experimenting: a smart strategy that broadens their tactical toolkit. As Fangio puts it, moving DeJean between nickel corner and safety provides matchup advantages while preserving his presence on the field.
If DeJean flourishes in these hybrid spots, the Eagles can mask the absence of Gardner-Johnson and evolve defensively-adding creativity without sacrificing execution.
Philadelphia’s secondary is at a crossroads, shifting from a veteran-laden group to a dynamic, youth-driven unit. For DeJean, the opportunity to play multiple roles could accelerate his development and strengthen the defense overall.
The Eagles expect their new-look unit to deliver continuity and intensity in the years ahead-and how they manage DeJean’s role could be central to that outcome.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
US GP talking points: What now in Piastri vs Norris? What’s left for struggling Ferrari?
After fresh twists in the Formula 1 title race in Singapore, a look at some of the key talking points as F1 heads back Stateside for the United States Grand Prix in Austin.What now for McLaren's papaya rules as title fight hots up?Amid calls after Singapore for the gloves to come off between the McLaren drivers in their battle for the world title, and with the team's status as 2025 constructors' champions now assured, the dynamics on track between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are certainly going to be keenly focused upon in Austin. The first-lap incident that led to the two papaya cars banging wheels at Marina Bay led to fresh scrutiny around the concept of McLaren's 'papaya rules', the evolving team agreement that outlines the basis on which their drivers race each other freely to ensure fairness and […]
Who can actually beat Terence Crawford?
Terence Crawford has won undisputed world championships at super-lightweight, welterweight and all the way up at super-middleweight.Unbeaten in his career, in that extraordinary run he's beaten standouts Errol Spence, at 147lbs, and most recently Canelo Alvarez, the dominant force at 168lbs. Beating Canelo at super-middleweight was implausible enough, moving up yet another division would not be realistic, even for Crawford.But he is running out of challenges. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Matthew Macklin and Barry Jones debate what Terence Crawford will do next following his sensational win over Canelo Alvarez. In one swoop he's picked up all four of the major super-middleweight world titles, so there are no rival world champions for him there. Crawford won the first fight with Alvarez so convincingly there's little call for a rematch. Hamzah Sheeraz is one of the […]
‘I’m Clutch’: Jorge Polanco is Becoming An October Legend for the Mariners
TORONTO – When Jorge Polanco went on an April home-run spree unlike anything the Mariners had seen, they made up a new nickname for the veteran hitter."We call him George Bonds for a reason," J.P. Crawford said. "The guy is so locked in. He has a gift."'We Believe in Each Other' - Jorge Polanco on Mariners' Game 2 Win over Blue Jays in ALCS The moniker, which compares Polanco to seven-time MVP Barry Bonds, took over the Mariners clubhouse at the beginning of this season. His teammates haven’t stopped calling him that since. "He had like 20 homers in two days," Crawford embellished. "So it just kind of stuck."In truth, Polanco began the year by lifting nine home runs through his first 21 games of the season, including six home runs in a six-game span. It was a significant development, considering […]
MLB Playoffs 2025: Brewers’ Brice Turang addresses dodging near-HBP before game-ending strikeout vs. Dodgers: ‘A natural reaction’
With Game 1 of the NLCS on the line Monday night and the bases loaded, Brice Turang saw a baseball hurled in his direction at 85 mph and made the reasonable, reactive decision.He got out of the way.One pitch later, he swung at a high fastball for a game-ending strikeout that secured a 2-1 win and 1-0 series lead for the Los Angeles Dodgers over his Milwaukee Brewers.A hit-by-pitch would have plated a game-tying run and extended the inning. Instead, Turang's strikeout ended the game. For this, there were online critics. And postgame questions at his locker about his ninth-inning at-bat.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement[Yahoo Sports TV is here! Watch live shows and highlights 24/7]Turang responded in a manner not unlike his decision to get out of the way of a fast-moving baseball — with reason."It sucks," Turang told reporters. "It is what it […]
MNF recaps + Week 6 Panic Meter: 5 RBs we are NERVOUS about + Waiver Wire MUST adds for Week 7
Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy ForecastSix weeks into the fantasy season and we have plenty of panic on the streets. Matt Harmon and Justin Boone fire up the ‘People’s Panic Meter’ to answer your email and social submissions. But first, Harmon recaps two wild MNF games between the Bears and Commanders and Bills and Falcons. Boone also provides players you need to target on the waiver wire including a few deep sleepers you may not have to fight for with your league mates.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement(0:45) - Matt's solo MNF recap: Bears 25, Commanders 24(14:40) - Matt's solo MNF recap: Falcons 24, Bills 14(25:00) - Justin Boone joins the show for Panic Meter and Waiver Wire(26:15) - Fantasy fallout: Titans fire HC Brian Callahan(35:30) - Fantasy fallout: Latest WR injuries including Puka Nacua, Emeka Egbuka, and Garrett Wilson(47:40) - Panic Meter: Chuba Hubbard, 49ers […]
Penn State AD: James Franklin’s Firing Went Far Beyond Recent Struggles
On Monday afternoon, fewer than 24 hours after rocking the college football world with his decision to fire head coach James Franklin following a stunning loss to Northwestern, athletic director Pat Kraft addressed the media in State College to explain his decision. Kraft read from a lengthy set of prepared remarks, answered a slew of pointed questions from reporters and then stepped aside so that Terry Smith, the interim face of Penn State football, could begin leading the program forward. The news conference lasted approximately 45 minutes. In terms of what both men said, let’s begin with the basics: Kraft told reporters he reached the conclusion to dismiss Franklin, who is now owed a massive buyout of approximately $50 million, early Sunday morning after reflecting on the Nittany Lions’ latest defeat and the overall standing of Penn State’s program. He contemplated sleeping […]
Related
Who can actually beat Terence Crawford?
Terence Crawford has won undisputed world championships at super-lightweight, welterweight and all the way up at super-middleweight.Unbeaten in his career, in that extraordinary run he's beaten standouts Errol Spence, at 147lbs, and most recently Canelo Alvarez, the dominant force at 168lbs. Beating Canelo at super-middleweight was implausible enough, moving up yet another division would not be realistic, even for Crawford.But he is running out of challenges. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Matthew Macklin and Barry Jones debate what Terence Crawford will do next following his sensational win over Canelo Alvarez. In one swoop he's picked up all four of the major super-middleweight world titles, so there are no rival world champions for him there. Crawford won the first fight with Alvarez so convincingly there's little call for a rematch. Hamzah Sheeraz is one of the […]
US GP talking points: What now in Piastri vs Norris? What’s left for struggling Ferrari?
After fresh twists in the Formula 1 title race in Singapore, a look at some of the key talking points as F1 heads back Stateside for the United States Grand Prix in Austin.What now for McLaren's papaya rules as title fight hots up?Amid calls after Singapore for the gloves to come off between the McLaren drivers in their battle for the world title, and with the team's status as 2025 constructors' champions now assured, the dynamics on track between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are certainly going to be keenly focused upon in Austin. The first-lap incident that led to the two papaya cars banging wheels at Marina Bay led to fresh scrutiny around the concept of McLaren's 'papaya rules', the evolving team agreement that outlines the basis on which their drivers race each other freely to ensure fairness and […]
‘I’m Clutch’: Jorge Polanco is Becoming An October Legend for the Mariners
TORONTO – When Jorge Polanco went on an April home-run spree unlike anything the Mariners had seen, they made up a new nickname for the veteran hitter."We call him George Bonds for a reason," J.P. Crawford said. "The guy is so locked in. He has a gift."'We Believe in Each Other' - Jorge Polanco on Mariners' Game 2 Win over Blue Jays in ALCS The moniker, which compares Polanco to seven-time MVP Barry Bonds, took over the Mariners clubhouse at the beginning of this season. His teammates haven’t stopped calling him that since. "He had like 20 homers in two days," Crawford embellished. "So it just kind of stuck."In truth, Polanco began the year by lifting nine home runs through his first 21 games of the season, including six home runs in a six-game span. It was a significant development, considering […]
MLB Playoffs 2025: Brewers’ Brice Turang addresses dodging near-HBP before game-ending strikeout vs. Dodgers: ‘A natural reaction’
With Game 1 of the NLCS on the line Monday night and the bases loaded, Brice Turang saw a baseball hurled in his direction at 85 mph and made the reasonable, reactive decision.He got out of the way.One pitch later, he swung at a high fastball for a game-ending strikeout that secured a 2-1 win and 1-0 series lead for the Los Angeles Dodgers over his Milwaukee Brewers.A hit-by-pitch would have plated a game-tying run and extended the inning. Instead, Turang's strikeout ended the game. For this, there were online critics. And postgame questions at his locker about his ninth-inning at-bat.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement[Yahoo Sports TV is here! Watch live shows and highlights 24/7]Turang responded in a manner not unlike his decision to get out of the way of a fast-moving baseball — with reason."It sucks," Turang told reporters. "It is what it […]
MNF recaps + Week 6 Panic Meter: 5 RBs we are NERVOUS about + Waiver Wire MUST adds for Week 7
Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy ForecastSix weeks into the fantasy season and we have plenty of panic on the streets. Matt Harmon and Justin Boone fire up the ‘People’s Panic Meter’ to answer your email and social submissions. But first, Harmon recaps two wild MNF games between the Bears and Commanders and Bills and Falcons. Boone also provides players you need to target on the waiver wire including a few deep sleepers you may not have to fight for with your league mates.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement(0:45) - Matt's solo MNF recap: Bears 25, Commanders 24(14:40) - Matt's solo MNF recap: Falcons 24, Bills 14(25:00) - Justin Boone joins the show for Panic Meter and Waiver Wire(26:15) - Fantasy fallout: Titans fire HC Brian Callahan(35:30) - Fantasy fallout: Latest WR injuries including Puka Nacua, Emeka Egbuka, and Garrett Wilson(47:40) - Panic Meter: Chuba Hubbard, 49ers […]
Penn State AD: James Franklin’s Firing Went Far Beyond Recent Struggles
On Monday afternoon, fewer than 24 hours after rocking the college football world with his decision to fire head coach James Franklin following a stunning loss to Northwestern, athletic director Pat Kraft addressed the media in State College to explain his decision. Kraft read from a lengthy set of prepared remarks, answered a slew of pointed questions from reporters and then stepped aside so that Terry Smith, the interim face of Penn State football, could begin leading the program forward. The news conference lasted approximately 45 minutes. In terms of what both men said, let’s begin with the basics: Kraft told reporters he reached the conclusion to dismiss Franklin, who is now owed a massive buyout of approximately $50 million, early Sunday morning after reflecting on the Nittany Lions’ latest defeat and the overall standing of Penn State’s program. He contemplated sleeping […]
Be the first to leave a comment