The Chicago Bears were sorry to see Vic Fangio leave this past offseason. He'd become sort of a version of Buddy Ryan. An elite defensive coordinator who'd crafted a system that helped create the best defense the franchise had seen in years. Unfortunately, that sort of success inevitably draws the attention of other teams. Those desperately searching for head coaches. Sure enough, John Elway and the Denver Broncos came calling in January.
Fangio, who like so many dreamed of being a head coach during his long career, couldn't pass up the opportunity. At age 61 it was likely to be his last chance. So he accepted the hire and bid farewell to arguably the best defense he'd ever built. There was optimism that the vastly-experienced coach with his defensive expertise could bring steadiness to the struggling Broncos franchise and get them back in the win column.
That hasn't happened. Denver is 3-6 and decisively out of the playoff picture barring a miracle run down the stretch. What's worse is apparently his coaching style hasn't been well-received by many. So much that there is fear the team is becoming divided.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports indicates serious tension in the locker room.
Fangio has had issues with offensive assistants, the sources said, and at one point top receiver Emmanuel Sanders in essence walked out on the team, leading to his eventual trade. Lines of communication have been strained, and Fangio has been quick to dispute play calls and come across as overbearing on the headsets, sources said, which has created issues in-game and otherwise.
"There is a negative reaction to almost every offensive play call," said one source with knowledge of the situation.
Other sources noted a disconnect between the offense and defense as well, with Fangio's "people skills," in their minds, lacking. There is almost no discussion beyond football, sources said, and that, coupled with some staff and personnel issues as well as lingering angst over an eventual sale of this franchise, has created a difficult climate around the team.
Vic Fangio faces a classic obstacle for head coaches
Fangio is running into something that so many first-year head coaches have over the years. He didn't take over a team that was rebuilding and therefore being crafted with players of his choosing. He inherited a largely veteran locker room. Much of it still filled with guys who helped win the Super Bowl back in 2015. They reached the mountaintop and thus had an idea in their heads about what their head coach should be like. Thus when Fangio's coaching style didn't fit their vision, it wasn't received well.
Emmanuel Sanders basically quit on the team and forced his way out via trade. Now apparently others are chafing under his demanding and detailed approach. Could an exodus be on the horizon or will John Elway live up to his reputation and change head coaches yet again? Given the pressure he's been under lately, it would not be a surprise. In truth, Denver needs to give Fangio more time. He's already done the first part of what they wanted. He fixed the defense.
Now it's about letting him find the right formula on offense. Abandoning ship after one season will have been nothing but a tragic waste of time. Either way, it sounds like Fangio might be having second thoughts about leaving Chicago.
