Even Vic Fangio was shocked by Aaron Nola’s outing vs. New York

Vic Fangio might be the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, but on Monday night, he was just like the rest of us, stunned that Aaron Nola actually shoved. Forget Jalen Carter spitting or the endless CB2 chatter ahead of Chiefs week; the first thing Fangio brought up at his press conference was Nola’s gem against the Mets.

Vic Fangio — one of us

Go Birds. Go Phils. Vic Fangio is one us. pic.twitter.com/gbgypthv6I

— Barstool Philly (@BarstoolPhilly) September 9, 2025

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Only in Philly do we get a 65-year-old football lifer showing up to work buzzing about the Phillies’ No. 2 starter finally looking like the guy he was paid to be.

Vic Fangio, a true man of the people, basically outed himself as every old head in the Delaware Valley: coach ball, crush a Zyn, watch the Phils from the recliner, fart unapologetically, and chase it all down with a cold beer. That’s the Fangio lifestyle.

When the Phillies are on, the whole city’s locked in, even the guy who just dialed up one of the best defensive performances in Super Bowl history. If you told me Fangio would react harder to a Nola shutout than a perfectly executed blitz package, I’d believe it. That’s Philly priorities.

Even the Mets booth couldn’t wrap their heads around it. Nola, who hasn’t exactly inspired confidence this season, went six innings, allowed three hits, struck out seven, and didn’t give up a run. Dropped his ERA to a still-gross 5.54, but for one night, it felt like vintage Nola.

Why It Matters for October

With Zack Wheeler out, the Phillies desperately need arms they can trust. Cristopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez, and Jesús Luzardo look like Rob Thomson’s playoff horses, but Nola’s the wild card. Does he start if a series goes long? Does he get stretched out as a multi-inning reliever? Whatever the role, he has to keep the ball in the yard.

Right now, his contract reads like one of the worst in baseball. But starts like this can change the story quick. If Nola locks in down the stretch, he could flip from overpaid liability to October hero. And nobody would love that more than Vic Fangio, the man who just became Philly’s newest honorary baseball dad.

Vic Fangio gets it. He lives the struggle, he celebrates the highs, and he’s as confused as we are when Aaron Nola decides to deal. If this is the beginning of Nola finally finding his groove again, we’ll all be thanking Fangio for speaking it into existence.