Vic Fangio

In 1975, Fangio played the defensive position of safety at Dunmore High School in northeast Pennsylvania.[2] From 1979 to 1981, he returned to his high school as the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator. In 1982, he was the defensive coordinator at Milford Academy, and in 1984 he became a defensive assistant coach for the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars of the United States Football League (USFL).

Fangio began his NFL career with New Orleans as the team’s linebackers coach from 1986-1994 during which time he coached the famed “Dome Patrol,” one of the greatest defensive groups of all-time. During Fangio’s nine seasons in New Orleans, the Saints ranked among the NFL’s Top 5 in total defense (300.0 ypg – 5th), scoring defense (18.1 ppg – 4th), sacks (408 – 3rd) and takeaways (336 – T-3rd).

Fangio joined the Carolina Panthers in 1995, the inaugural season for the Panthers. He was the defensive coordinator from 1995-98 under head coach Dom Capers and helped the franchise advance to the NFC Championship Game in just its second season.[3]

Fangio coached the defense for the Colts from 1999-2001 under head coach Jim Mora Sr.

Fangio joined another first-year team in the Houston Texans in 2002. He was Dom Capers' defensive coordinator in Houston from 2002-05.[4][5]

Fangio joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2006 and worked as a special assistant to the head coach/defensive assistant for his first three years with the Ravens and later coached a linebackers group in 2009 that featured All-Pro Ray Lewis.[6]

In 2010, he was the defensive coordinator for the Stanford Cardinal under head coach Jim Harbaugh, and in 2011 he followed Harbaugh to the San Francisco 49ers when Harbaugh was hired as the 49ers' head coach.[7] Along with Harbaugh, he was credited with turning around the 49ers defense, producing a league-high 35 turnovers in 2011. Fangio was released from his contract by the 49ers on January 15, 2015 after Harbaugh was let go.[8]

On January 19, 2015, Fangio agreed in principle to become the defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears.[9] After the departure of outside linebackers coach Clint Hurtt in 2017, Fangio assumed that position in addition to his role as defensive coordinator.[10] During Fangio's first three seasons in Chicago, the Bears defense improved from a 30th-ranked unit in 2014 to being 14th, 15th, and 10th in total defense.[11]

Fangio's contract expired following the 2017 season and he interviewed for the Bears' head coaching position on January 3, 2018.[12] The head coaching position ultimately went to Matt Nagy. Nine days later, Fangio signed a three-year extension with the Bears to continue as their defensive coordinator,[13] making him the first Bears defensive coordinator to stay under a new head coach since Buddy Ryan with newly-arriving head Mike Ditka in 1982.[14] Fangio was also granted complete control of the defense.[15] Under Fangio, the 2018 Bears defense excelled as it led the NFL in turnovers forced (36) and interceptions (27). Chicago was also ranked third in total defense, second in yards per play allowed, and first in scoring defense.[16] On January 17, 2019, Fangio was named Assistant Coach of the Year by the Pro Football Writers Association.[17] A month later, he received the same honor from the Associated Press at the 8th Annual NFL Honors.[18]

On January 10, 2019, Fangio was hired to become the 17th head coach of the Denver Broncos.[19]

As Fangio assembled his staff, defensive backs coach Ed Donatell followed him from Chicago to serve as his defensive coordinator,[20] as did outside linebackers coach Brandon Staley for the same position.[21] On September 9, 2019, Fangio lost his regular season head coaching debut against the Oakland Raiders by a score of 16–24. On October 6, 2019, Fangio recorded his first career win as head coach in a 20–13 win against the Los Angeles Chargers. In Fangio's first season as head coach, he led the Broncos to a 7–9 record, finishing 2nd in the AFC West.[22]

In Fangio's second season as head coach, the Broncos lost their star defensive player in Von Miller for the season after he sustained an injury. The Broncos began the 2020 season with a 16–14 loss to the Tennessee Titans on September 14, 2020.[23] On September 21, 2020, Fangio was fined US$100,000 by the NFL for not properly wearing a face mask, as required for coaches during the COVID-19 pandemic, during a Week 2 game.[24] On November 28, 2020, Broncos' backup quarterback Jeff Driskel had tested positive for COVID-19, and starting quarterback Drew Lock, as well as third and fourth quarterbacks Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles, had been in physical contact with Driskel without wearing protective masks. Accordingly, all four were placed in league-mandated quarantine and were deemed ineligible to play in the Week 12 game against the New Orleans Saints on November 29, 2020. Undrafted wide receiver Kendall Hinton, who played quarterback at Wake Forest and was promoted from the practice squad, served as the emergency starter, with running back Royce Freeman as the backup.[25] The Broncos would go on to lose against the Saints by a score of 3–31. Lock, Rypien and Bortles were activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list on December 1, 2020 and returned to the active roster in preparation for the team's Week 13 game at the Kansas City Chiefs,[26] while Driskel returned to the active roster on December 16, 2020.[27] On December 2, 2020, Fangio announced that the team had fined all four of its quarterbacks for violating COVID-19 protocols and not wearing masks while in close contact of each other.[28] In his second season, Fangio led the Broncos to a 5–11 record, finishing 4th in the AFC West.