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Broncos Going With Bears Defensive Coordinator Fangio As Their Head Coach
The Broncos have their new head coach, and the Bears need a new defensive coordinator. Vic Fangio has been hired as the Broncos’ next head coach, ESPN and NFL Network are reporting.
As Profootballtalk.com’s Michael Davis Smith notes, Fangio has been the Bears’ defensive coordinator for the last four seasons and was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator for four seasons before that. He’s previously been a defensive coordinator with the Panthers, Colts and Texans. He has a good reputation as a defensive coach.
There was some talk, however, that he might not be a strong candidate for a head coach, as he hasn’t been one before and, at age 60, he could have faced some age discrimination in a league where younger head coaches seem to be all the rage.
As NFL.com noted, he faces an interesting rebuild in Denver, particularly on defense.
Three years removed from their Super Bowl title, the Broncos are at a crossroads with All-Pro linebacker Von Miller. The eighth-year veteran is coming off another stellar season, but general manager John Elway recently noted that he could have played better and would be open to dealing his best player. Pro Bowl cornerback Chris Harris is reportedly another prime candidate to be shipped out.
Either way, Elway is entrusting Fangio. The Broncos' lead decision-maker was seeking a coach that demonstrated dominance on one side of the ball and Fangio fits the bill. His gruff personality was perceived as the primary impediment to him becoming a head coach sooner.
His production made him hard to pass up this time around.
Eight of Fangio's defenses have finished in the top 10 and five have been in the top five -- the latter feats all occurring this decade with the Bears and San Francisco 49ers. It was just two years ago that Denver was in the same class. But after four seasons in the top five, the Broncos finished 22nd in total defense in 2018 en route to a 6-10 mark under Vance Joseph, their third playoff-less campaign in a row.
Denver's offense figures to be revamped as well. Former head coach Gary Kubiak, who led Denver to Super Bowl 50 glory, is expected to rejoin the Broncos staff as the offensive coordinator. The Broncos could also be in the market to take a quarterback with the 10th overall pick in the 2019 draft.
Fangio beat out Mike Munchak, who will remain with the Pittsburgh Steelers as offensive line coach, according to NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala.