With their 2023 season now in the rearview, the Miami Dolphins are interviewing candidates for their defensive coordinator role, which was left open after the team mutually parted ways with Vic Fangio.
To this point, there have been six known coaches who will interview for the job – Brandon Staley, Ryan Slowik, Anthony Campanile, Chris Kiffin, Leslie Frazier and Anthony Weaver.
Before Mike McDaniel, Chris Grier and Stephen Ross make a decision on who will run the defense, let’s take some time to get to know Weaver.
Coaching history
- Baltimore Ravens assoc. head coach/defensive line coach (2022-present)
- Baltimore Ravens defensive line coach/run game coordinator (2021)
- Houston Texans defensive coordinator/defensive line coach (2020)
- Houston Texans defensive line coach (2016-19)
- Cleveland Browns defensive line coach (2014-15)
- Buffalo Bills defensive line coach (2013)
- New York Jets asst. defensive line coach (2012)
- North Texas linebackers coach (2011)
- Florida graduate assistant (2010)
Playing career
Weaver was drafted by Baltimore in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft following a collegiate career at Notre Dame. The defensive end played four seasons with the Ravens before finishing out his career with a three-year stint with the Texans.
In 103 career games, Weaver recorded 265 tackles (34 for a loss), 21 passes defensed, 15.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, five recovered fumbles and three interceptions.
Top units in Baltimore
Weaver has been coaching the Ravens defensive line for three full seasons now, and they’ve been one of the best units in the league over that time.
Against the run, they were the league’s top team in 2021. They were third in 2022 and 14th in 2023.
He also helped Justin Madubuike have a breakout campaign this past season, recording 56 tackles (12 for a loss), 33 quarterback hits and 13 sacks on his way to his first Pro Bowl.
Received a ringing endorsement from a former HC
Bill O’Brien was the head coach in Houston when Weaver was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2020, and O’Brien had a lot of positive things to say about him then.
“Weave (Weaver) has a great presence,” O’Brien said. “He was a former player and has coached for a long time. He’s been in different schemes, done an excellent job with our d-line. He’s been in front of the (defensive) unit before, because they divide up responsibilities during the week. Very smart and the players have a lot of respect for Anthony and he’s going to bring a lot of different ideas and creativity to our defense…His experience on different staffs with all the different people he’s worked with defensively, especially, is good for him. He brings a great perspective to what we’re going to try to do. He’s very, very smart, very good communicator, very hard worker.”
