Chicago Bears: 3 head coach openings make sense for Vic Fangio
By Ryan Heckman
Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has been subject of much interest from other teams.
Khalil Mack, Vic Fangio and the Chicago Bears defense swallowed up their divisional rival in the final week of the 2018 NFL season. The Minnesota Vikings were supposed to be fighting for their playoff lives at home, but the Bears defense had other plans.
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It was the final regular season showcase for this Bears defense which finished either at or near the top of the NFL in every major defensive category. What this unit has been able to accomplish under Fangio, year over year, is remarkable.
Just this past offseason, there were some fans questioning the retaining of Fangio. I was never quite sure why, though, because his track record is proven. Each year in Chicago, his defense has improved. From top-10 in 2017, to arguably the no. 1 defense this season, Fangio’s guys have taken it to another level.
The Bears led the league in takeaways this season with a total of 36. As we head into the playoffs, any team (starting with the Philadelphia Eagles) that plays Chicago will inevitably turn the ball over more than once in that game. It has been proven week after week. That’s just how it is.
The success of this unit didn’t happen by accident. General manager Ryan Pace has done an excellent job filling holes through the draft, free agency and of course one blockbuster trade. From there, it was Fangio who took the reigns.
It was Fangio who helped turn a guy like Kyle Fuller around, who is now looked at as one of the top corners in football. It was Fangio who took fourth and fifth round safeties like Eddie Jackson and Adrian Amos, and helped develop them into one of the best tandems in the game.
It is Fangio’s scheme which works so well with the type of pass rushers needed in the NFL nowadays. Anyone who thinks it has just been Mack needs to examine the other guys as well. This Bears team had help pressuring and sacking the quarterback from nearly every player who received even limited snaps this year.
It is no wonder that ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Fangio has already received interest from those franchises with head coaching vacancies.
Dolphins and Broncos now have requested HC interviews with Bears’ defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, per league source. They are not expected to be the only interested teams in Fangio. He can’t interview this week with Bears prepping for Eagles.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 31, 2018
Fangio will be a hot candidate for a head coaching gig. Whether or not he chooses to leave Chicago is a different story altogether. But, make no mistake, he is highly coveted.
Right now, the way I see it, Fangio has three ideal landing spots, if not the Bears. There are a few intriguing franchises out there where his philosophies would help tremendously. Let’s look at the top three, from my perspective.