Dolphins hiring Chargers defensive coordinator as assistant on Vic Fangio’s staff

The Dolphins are hiring Chargers defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill as secondary/passing game coordinator on Vic Fangio’s staff, a league source confirmed to the Miami Herald.

Hill, 44, just completed his second season on head coach Brandon Staley’s staff in Los Angeles. Hill was assistant defensive backs coach in 2019 and 2020 under Fangio when he was head coach of the Denver Broncos. He also spent the 2018 season as the Dolphins’ assistant defensive backs coach.

“First and foremost, Renaldo is a good coach,” Fangio said Monday during his introductory news conference as Miami’s new defensive coordinator. “He’s really a talented coach that’s got a bright future in the NFL ... his familiarity with me and the system and what we do was important to me. But regardless of that, just his ability to be a great coach is what attracted me to him.”

A 10-year safety in the NFL, Hill played for the Dolphins from 2006 to 2008. He got his first coaching opportunity as a graduate assistant in Wyoming in 2012 and then was promoted to cornerbacks coach the following season. He spent three seasons as the University of Pittsburgh’s defensive backs coach before he got his first NFL coaching gig with Miami.

Hill is the first addition to Fangio’s staff after he was announced as defensive coordinator last week. Along with parting ways with former defensive coordinator Josh Boyer, the Dolphins also relieved safeties coach Steve Gregory, outside linebackers coach Ty McKenzie and assistant linebackers coach Steve Ferentz were relieved of their duties.

Fangio said he is in the process of filling out the remainder of his staff and getting to know holdovers such as defensive line coach Austin Clark and linebackers coach Anthony Campanile.

“By all reports and everything I know, they’re great coaches and that’s why [head coach] Mike [McDaniel] kept them on and I’m looking forward to working with them,” he said.

NFL Network first reported the Dolphins were hiring Hill.

Fisher’s contract voids, set to be free agent

Eric Fisher’s contract was voided late last week, CBS Sports reported, clearing the way for the veteran offensive tackle to become an unrestricted free agent when free agency opens March 15.

The Dolphins signed Fisher to a one-year deal last December, giving him a base salary of $1.12 million and a $2.68 million signing bonus spread out over four void years, which do not extend the contract and are used as placeholders for the prorated bonus. Fisher, 32, did not appear in a game and was placed on injured reserve a month later with a calf injury.

Even if the Dolphins do not re-sign Fisher, his remaining signing bonus will count against Miami’s cap in 2023 and future seasons.