 Fangio with theDenver Broncos in 2021 | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive coordinator |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | (1958-08-22)August 22, 1958 (age 66) Dunmore, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Dunmore (PA) |
| College: | East Stroudsburg (1976–1980) |
| Career history | |
As a coach: | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season: | 19–30 (.388) |
| Coaching profile atPro Football Reference | |
Victor John[1]Fangio (born August 22, 1958) is an American professionalfootball coach who is thedefensive coordinator for thePhiladelphia Eagles of theNational Football League (NFL). Fangio also served as thehead coach of theDenver Broncos. A 41-year coaching veteran with 33 seasons of NFL experience, Fangio was a defensive coordinator for 20 of the last 24 seasons at the NFL or college level before becoming the Broncos' head coach. He served as theChicago Bears' defensive coordinator after leading the defenses for theSan Francisco 49ers,Stanford University,Houston Texans,Indianapolis Colts andCarolina Panthers.
Fangio's defenses have consistently been among the most productive in the NFL in a number of categories, including scoring defense, total yards allowed and fewest penalties. His defenses have ranked in the league's top-five in yards allowed in eight of the last 13 years while placing in the NFL's top-5 in fewest points allowed seven times over that span.[2]
In 1975, Fangio played the defensive position ofsafety atDunmore High School, outside ofScranton, Pennsylvania.[3] While he did not play college football, Fangio did take several coaching classes during his time as an undergraduate student atEast Stroudsburg University. Fangio graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor’s degree in health and physical education.[4][5]
From 1979 to 1981, he returned to his high school as the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator. In 1982, he was the defensive coordinator atMilford Academy, and in 1984 he became a defensive assistant coach for thePhiladelphia/Baltimore Stars of theUnited States Football League (USFL).
Fangio began his NFL career with New Orleans as the team's linebackers coach from 1986 to 1994.[6] He was the position coach for the famed "Dome Patrol", one of the greatest linebacker corps 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 theCarolina Panthers in 1995, the inaugural season for the Panthers. He was the defensive coordinator from 1995 to 1998 under head coachDom Capers and helped the franchise advance to the NFC Championship Game in just its second season.[7]
Fangio coached the defense for the Colts from 1999 to 2001 under head coachJim Mora Sr.[8]
Fangio joined another first-year team in the Houston Texans in 2002. He was Dom Capers' defensive coordinator in Houston from 2002 to 2005.[9][10]
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-ProRay Lewis.[11]
In 2010, he was the defensive coordinator for the Stanford Cardinal under head coachJim Harbaugh, and in 2011 he followed Harbaugh to the San Francisco 49ers when Harbaugh was hired as the 49ers' head coach.[12] 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.[13]
On January 19, 2015, Fangio agreed in principle to become the defensive coordinator for theChicago Bears.[14] After the departure of outside linebackers coachClint Hurtt in 2017, Fangio assumed that position in addition to his role as defensive coordinator.[15] 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.[16]
Fangio's contract expired following the 2017 season and he interviewed for the Bears' head coaching position on January 3, 2018.[17] The head coaching position ultimately went toMatt Nagy. Nine days later, Fangio signed a three-year extension with the Bears to continue as their defensive coordinator,[18] making him the first Bears defensive coordinator to stay under a new head coach sinceBuddy Ryan with newly-arriving headMike Ditka in 1982.[19] Fangio was also granted complete control of the defense.[20] 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.[21] On January 17, 2019, Fangio was named Assistant Coach of the Year by thePro Football Writers Association.[22] A month later, he received thesame honor from theAssociated Press at the8th NFL Honors.[23]
On January 10, 2019, Fangio was hired to become the 17thhead coach of theDenver Broncos.[24]
As Fangio assembled his staff, defensive backs coachEd Donatell followed him fromChicago to serve as his defensive coordinator,[25] as did outside linebackers coachBrandon Staley for the same position.[26] On September 9, 2019, Fangio lost his regular season head coaching debut against theOakland Raiders by a score of 24-16. On October 6, 2019, Fangio recorded his first career win as head coach in a 20–13 win against theLos 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.[27]
In Fangio's second season as head coach, the Broncos lost their star defensive player inVon Miller for the season, due to injury. The Broncos began the2020 season with a 16–14 loss to theTennessee Titans on September 14, 2020.[28] On September 21, 2020, Fangio was finedUS$100,000 by the NFL for not properly wearing aface mask, as required for coaches during theCOVID-19 pandemic, during a Week 2 game.[29] On November 28, 2020, Broncos' backup quarterbackJeff Driskel had tested positive forCOVID-19, and starting quarterbackDrew Lock, as well as third and fourth quarterbacksBrett Rypien andBlake 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 theNew Orleans Saints on November 29, 2020. Undraftedwide receiverKendall Hinton, who played quarterback atWake Forest and was promoted from the practice squad, served as the emergency starter, withrunning backRoyce Freeman as the backup.[30] The Broncos would go on to lose against the Saints by a score of 31–3. 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 theKansas City Chiefs,[31] while Driskel returned to the active roster on December 16, 2020.[32] 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.[33] In his second season, Fangio led the Broncos to a 5–11 record, finishing 4th in the AFC West.[34]
Fangio led the Broncos to a 3–0 start before going 4–10 the rest of the way. After the Broncos lost to theKansas City Chiefs in the regular season finale, the Broncos parted company with Fangio.[35] Fangio finished his tenure with the Broncos with a 19–30 (.388) record in three seasons.
On February 12, 2022, following his departure from Denver, Fangio announced that he would not coach with a team during the 2022 season.[36]
Fangio was spotted at a few practices that thePhiladelphia Eagles had during their 2022 training camp.[37] On October 10, 2022, news broke that the Eagles had hired Fangio to serve as a consultant. He had been serving in the role for theseason, but the team managed to keep the news quiet.[38] Fangio signed a two-week long contract to help with the Eagles' preparation forSuper Bowl LVII against theKansas City Chiefs.[39]
Following Super Bowl LVII, Eagles defensive coordinatorJonathan Gannon was expected to depart the team to accept a head coaching position, and Fangio was seen as a likely candidate to replace Gannon. However, before Gannon officially left the Eagles to become the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, Fangio accepted an offer to become the new defensive coordinator for theMiami Dolphins. He was officially hired by the team on February 15, 2023.[40][41]
On January 24, 2024, Fangio and the Miami Dolphins mutually agreed to part ways, allowing Fangio to be closer to his family in Pennsylvania.[42]
On January 27, 2024, Fangio returned to the Philadelphia Eagles as the team's defensive coordinator. He replacedSean Desai, who served as a defensive assistant under Fangio during his tenure as defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears.[43]
In Fangio's first year in Philadelphia, the Eagles ranked 1st in total defense and 2nd in scoring defense; the Eagles had placed 26th and 30th, respectively, in those in 2023.[44] Fangio's addition eventually led to the Eagles winningSuper Bowl LIX, in which his defensive unit was widely credited in overwhelming theKansas City Chiefs' offense, sackingquarterbackPatrick Mahomes six times and forcing threeturnovers.[45][46][47] Fangio was nominated forNational Football League Assistant Coach of the Year Award, but finished fourth in the voting.[48]
| Team | Year | Regular season | Post season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| DEN | 2019 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2nd in AFC West | — | — | — | — |
| DEN | 2020 | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 4th in AFC West | — | — | — | — |
| DEN | 2021 | 7 | 10 | 0 | .412 | 4th in AFC West | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 19 | 30 | 0 | .388 | 0 | 0 | .000 | |||
