The Chicago Bears will not be thrilled with the latest news coming out of Philadelphia. It seems that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has made a final decision on potential retirement.
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane, "Vic Fangio will remain defensive coordinator moving forward, per NFL sources. After contemplating retirement, the 67-year-old will return for his third season at the helm of the Eagles' defense."
This isn't the best of news for the Bears, who would gladly accept Fangio's retirement.
Chicago beat Philadelphia 24-15 in their lone regular-season matchup, cementing that the Bears had already surpassed the defending champs. However, a key factor in the game's outcome was the Eagles' offensive mistakes, constantly putting pressure on Fangio's unit. Chicago watched firsthand just how talented and how well-coached the defensive roster was. Losing Fangio would have taken away any faint hopes the Eagles had of catching up to the Bears in the NFC playoff picture.
Instead, this hope remains alive and leaves the franchise as a clear threat to the Bears if they can figure it out offensively. There has been a notable change to Philadelphia's offense that will work to Chicago's benefit, with the Eagles stealing Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion as their next offseason coordinator. This helps, at least a bit, offset the news of Fangio's expected return.
Bears Fans Disappointed that Vic Fangio is Returning for the 2026 Season
From the outside, it seemed the perfect time for Fangio to retire after his unit did the heavy lift in the 2025 season and fueled the team's Super Bowl run the year before. The Eagles allowed 19.3 points per game, pointing to how great Fangio was and why rivals would celebrate his potential retirement. It is easy to imagine the heights the Eagles' defense might reach if they had anything close to consistent offensive support.
For the Bears, this isn't the end of the world, having put up 24 points against the Eagles last season and proving they can beat Fangio. His return doesn't push the Bears behind the Eagles, but rather leaves the franchise as a potential looming threat. One that Chicago fans will be keeping an eye on throughout the offseason and into the first weeks of the 2026 campaign.
The hope remains that Fangio's return won't be enough for Philadelphia to recapture its 2024 Super Bowl magic. Instead, Bears fans would prefer to see the Eagles set themselves up for another letdown of a year after their early 2025 playoff exit. Chicago remains the NFC's standard when it comes to up-and-coming contenders thanks to the gains they made this past season. On the other hand, even after the return of the accomplished defensive coordinator, it appears the Eagles are on the outside looking in when it comes to serious NFC threats.