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Longtime defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is the new head coach of the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos on Thursday agreed to terms with Fangio to become the 17th head coach in franchise history, president and general manager John Elway announced. Fangio, boasting 32 years of coaching experience in the league, is now the successor to Vance Joseph in Denver, Fangio’s first stint as a head coach in the NFL.
“Vic really impressed us with his attention to detail—his focus is on teaching the fundamentals, technique and playing disciplined football,” Elway said. “Going through this process and talking to many qualified candidates, it became clear that Vic was the best choice to lead our team.
“There are few things that Vic has not seen in 40 years of coaching. He’s been great on the defensive side of the ball for a number of years with a simple, detailed approach that gets results. With his intelligence and experience, Vic is as good of a football coach as you can find. He’s the perfect fit and exactly what we need as head coach of the Denver Broncos.”
Former Texans and Broncos coach Gary Kubiak will come down from the Denver front office to oversee the offense of the Broncos. An offensive coordinator could also be hired, per reports.
Fangio fits the description of what Elway said he was seeking when Joseph was fired: a veteran coach with a decided expertise and proven record of greatness on one side of the ball.
Fangio, 60, met with the team a day after the Bears lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 16-15 in the wild-card playoffs. He has 32 years of NFL coaching experience, including 18 years as a defensive coordinator, but never has been a head coach.
Fangio has drawn extensive praise for his work in Chicago, where the Bears’ defense finished first in yards per play and points per game allowed this season.
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak was the other finalist for the job. The Broncos also interviewed Colorado native and former Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano, who was viewed as a favorite by some closely connected to the organization.
Denver’s defense is richly talented, headlined by pass rushers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb, and could help the Broncos make a rapid turnaround.
The position most pundits believe to be a weakness — quarterback — has been a revolving door since Peyton Manning’s retirement. The Broncos signed Case Keenum to a two-year deal in free agency last March but could be back in the market at the start of the new league year.
–Field Level Media