Vic Fangio was named the 17th head coach in Denver Broncos history on Jan. 10, 2019.
A 40-year coaching veteran with 32 seasons of NFL experience, Fangio has been a defensive coordinator for 20 of the last 24 seasons at the NFL or college level. He most recently served as the Bears’ defensive coordinator for the last four years (2015-18) after leading the defenses for San Francisco (2011-14), Stanford University (2010), Houston (2002-05), Indianapolis (1999-2001) and Carolina (1995-98).
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 12 years while placing in the NFL’s top-5 in fewest points allowed seven times over that span.
Fangio has led a defense that has ranked among the NFL’s top-8 in passing yards for seven consecutive seasons, and his teams have ranked among the league’s top-5 in fewest defensive penalties in three of the last four years.
During his 32 years coaching in the NFL, Fangio has helped 14 different teams to the playoffs across six different organizations.
Individually, Fangio has worked with 25 players who have combined for 44 Pro Bowl selections, including three first-team All-Pros most recently with the Bears in 2018 (LB Khalil Mack, CB Kyle Fuller & S Eddie Jackson). He has also coached three members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame — Kevin Greene, Rickey Jackson and Ray Lewis — as well as 1991 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Pat Swilling.
Most recently, Fangio’s defense with the Bears in 2018 led the NFL in scoring defense (17.7 ppg), rushing defense (80.0 ypg), yards per play (4.8), takeaways (35), interceptions (27), three-and-outs (26.8%) and 20+yard plays (46). The Bears, who finished 12-4 and won the NFC North Division for the team’s first playoff berth in eight seasons, also ranked third in total defense (299.7 ypg) and sacks (50) while limiting opponents to the fourth-worst third-down percentage (34.2) in the NFL.
Fangio joined the Bears after working as defensive coordinator for San Francisco from 2011-14 under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. During his four seasons in the Bay Area, the 49ers made three playoff appearances, won two NFC West titles and advanced to Super Bowl XLVII.
In that four-year span under Fangio, San Francisco’s defense ranked second in the NFL in points (17.4 ppg) and third in yards (310.2 ypg) allowed. Fangio’s unit also boasted the league’s top run defense (92.0 ypg) and tied for the third-most takeaways in the league from 2011-14.
Fangio coached 10 different Pro Bowl selections with the 49ers and placed at least four players in the league’s annual all-star game in each season from 2011-13. From 2011-12, defensive ends Aldon Smith and Justin Smith, along with linebackers NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis, combined for six first-team All-Pro selections.
Fangio spent the 2010 season with Jim Harbaugh as Stanford University’s defensive coordinator. Inheriting the nation’s 69th-ranked scoring defense (26.5 ppg), Fangio led the team to a No. 10 ranking (17.4 ppg) in 2010 while posting three conference shutouts. Stanford, which finished the season 12-1, allowed just 9.3 points per game to its final six opponents, including the team’s 40-12 Orange Bowl victory against Virginia Tech—the first BCS bowl win in program history.
Before working at the college level, Fangio spent four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens under head coaches Brian Billick (2006-07) and John Harbaugh (2008-09). He worked as a special assistant to the head coach/defensive assistant for his first three years with the Ravens and then coached a linebackers group in 2009 that featured All-Pro Ray Lewis.
Baltimore, which made it to the NFL’s divisional round of the playoffs in three of Fangio’s four seasons, featured the league’s top scoring defense during that span (17.0 ppg). The Ravens also finished in the Top 10 in total defense, rushing defense, yards per play allowed and red zone defense in each year from 2006-09.
Prior to joining the Ravens, Fangio spent 12 seasons as an NFL defensive coordinator—four years each with expansion teams Carolina (1995-98) and Houston (2002-05) under Head Coach Dom Capers as well as three years with Indianapolis (1999-2001) under Head Coach Jim Mora Sr.
Fangio helped the Texans’ inaugural team in 2002 finish among the league’s best units in red zone defense (47.1% – 3rd), third-down defense (35.5% – 7th) and yards per play allowed (5.0 – 9th). Veteran cornerback Aaron Glenn and defensive end Gary Walker were selected to the Pro Bowl that season and helped set the tone for a franchise that increased its win total in each of its first three years of existence.
Before his three-year tenure with the Colts, Fangio was Capers’ choice to lead the expansion-Panthers’ defense from 1995-98.
Carolina ranked seventh in total defense (314.2 ypg) and eighth in scoring defense (20.3 ppg) in 1995 while also totaling the fifth-most takeaways (37) in the NFL during its first season. The Panthers improved to second in scoring defense (13.6 ppg) and produced a league-high 60 sacks in 1996 as the franchise advanced to the NFC Championship Game in just its second season.
Carolina’s 1996 defense, which set an NFL record by allowing just 56 points during its final eight regular-season games, sent four players to the Pro Bowl: cornerback Eric Davis along with linebackers Kevin Greene, Sam Mills and Lamar Lathon.
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.
The legendary linebacker unit, which included Rickey Jackson, Vaughan Johnson, Sam Mills and Pat Swilling, combined for 18 Pro Bowls, 10 first-team All-Pro selections and one NFL Defensive Player of the Year honor (Swilling, 1991). In 1992, all four linebackers were selected to the Pro Bowl—the first time in NFL history four players from the same team and position group were chosen for the honor.
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).
Before entering the NFL coaching ranks, Fangio was a defensive assistant for Mora Sr. with the USFL’s Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars from 1984-85, where he was a part of back-to-back USFL Championships. He also worked as a graduate assistant at the University of North Carolina in 1983.
Fangio began his career in 1979 coaching linebackers at his alma mater, Dunmore (Pa.) High School, under legendary Pennsylvania football coach Jack Henzes. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1980 before assuming the same position with Milford (Conn.) Academy in 1982.
Fangio, who graduated from East Stroudsburg University with a health and physical education degree, was inducted into the Northeast Pennsylvania Hall of Fame in 1993. Born on Aug. 22, 1958, Fangio has a son, Christian, and a daughter, Cassie.
