Since Thanksgiving, the Dolphins have faced setbacks with the losses of Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, and Andrew Van Ginkel. This situation draws parallels to Fangio’s tenure with the Broncos, where Chubb and Von Miller rarely played together, resulting in playoff absences. Despite a similar challenge, the Dolphins, currently at 11-6, approach the wild-card round with an edge lineup featuring a group of experienced 30-somethings to apply pressure on Patrick Mahomes.
For veteran pass rusher Irvin, this marks his seventh team, joining the Dolphins as a supplementary pass rusher after a stint with the Lions. At 36, Irvin, a former Seahawks first-rounder, joined the Lions’ practice squad in November, contributing a sack in two games. After the Lions’ release in December, Irvin, like Houston, cleared waivers and waited for another opportunity, which the Dolphins’ unique situation now presents.
Irvin has a history of mid-season arrivals in the later stages of his career, having joined the Bears in November 2021 and re-signed with the Seahawks in October 2022. Although he has not crossed paths with Fangio before, Irvin played under Fangio disciple Clint Hurtt in Seattle last season. Known for excelling as a rental piece, Irvin’s past performances, like his 8.5 sacks for the Panthers in 2019 and 3.5 sacks in eight Falcons games in 2018, make him a valuable asset for the Dolphins, especially with rookie backup Cameron Goode’s injury in Week 18.
Reed, a player with three seasons under Fangio in Denver, rejoined his former coach in March, only to be released by the Dolphins in August. After a stint with the Raiders, playing in four games and starting two, Reed, at 27, adds a touch of youth to the Dolphins’ aging outside linebacker crew. With Houston and recently re-signed Melvin Ingram at 34, and Emmanuel Ogbah, benched by Fangio this season, at 30, the Dolphins, facing a defending Super Bowl champion in the playoffs, have had to get creative during this challenging period.
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