Right After Super Bowl Media Night, Jason Kelce’s Public Stance Sparked a $70 Million Fallout

The rise of the Philadelphia Eagles defense in 2025 has pushed defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to the top of the NFL’s head-coaching radar. During the regular season, Fangio led a unit that finished 10th in the NFL in points allowed, giving up just 20.4 points per game, while ranking 5th in red-zone defense, allowing touchdowns on only 50 percent of opponent trips inside the 20. The Eagles consistently disrupted quarterbacks, finishing 6th league-wide in total pressures (225 hurries) and 10th in pressure rate at 35.7 percent, while maintaining balance against the run. Philadelphia also ranked 10th in rushing touchdowns allowed, surrendering just 13 all season, and limited opponents to 110.8 rushing yards per game. The defense paired discipline with explosiveness, recording 47 sacks and 16 interceptions, numbers that reflected Fangio’s ability to blend structure with aggression. That performance translated directly into playoff success in January 2026. The Eagles opened the postseason with a 34–31 Wild Card victory over the Atlanta Falcons, followed by a 20–17 Divisional Round win against the Detroit Lions, holding Detroit under control defensively. Their season ended one step short of the Super Bowl with a narrow 31–27 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. Fangio’s influence extended beyond scheme. He played a major role in developing young defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, each of whom finished the season with four interceptions, while also earning praise for his adaptability. Philadelphia deployed Dime defense on 32.4 percent of snaps, the highest rate in the NFL, a strategic choice designed to neutralize pass-heavy offenses. With that résumé, Fangio quickly became a prime target in the coaching market. League sources indicate he declined interview requests from the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Buffalo Bills. Each franchise carries deep NFL history and immediate head-coaching appeal, but Fangio chose not to engage at this stage of the cycle. The decision suggests a coach confident in his trajectory and unwilling to rush a career-defining move. Still early in his tenure as a defensive coordinator, and backed by one of the league’s strongest coaching bloodlines, Vic Fangio remains one of the most sought-after names in the NFL. For now, his message is clear: the results speak for themselves, and the timing has to be right.