Vic Fangio enters his third season with the Denver Broncos in 2021 after being named the 17th head coach in franchise history on Jan. 10, 2019.
A 42-year coaching veteran with 34 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 the Bears' defensive coordinator from 2015-18 after leading the defenses for San Francisco (2011-14), Stanford University (2010), Houston (2002-05), Indianapolis (1999-2001) and Carolina (1995-98).
During his 34 years coaching in the NFL, Fangio has helped 14 different teams to the playoffs across six different organizations. Individually, Fangio has worked with 29 players who have combined for 48 Pro Bowl selections, and he has also coached three members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame—LBs Kevin Greene, Rickey Jackson and Ray Lewis—as well as 1991 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Pat Swilling (LB).
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 14 years while placing in the NFL's top-5 in fewest points allowed seven times over that span.
The fourth-most experienced first-time head coach (non-interim) in NFL history, Fangio also oversees Denver's defense. The Broncos under Fangio became the first team since red zone statistics began being tracked in 1995 to lead the league in red zone defense in consecutive years (43.9% on 47-of-107 attempts).
In 2020, outside linebacker Bradley Chubb and safety Justin Simmons earned their first career Pro Bowl selections while tackle Garett Bolles was chosen second-team All-Pro. The Broncos offense received contributions from 15 first or second-year offensive players who appeared in 5,556 snaps, which were nearly 900 snaps more than any other team in the NFL (Cincinnati, 4,651).
Fangio's impact was immediately felt on the Broncos' defense in 2019 as the unit led the league in red zone defense (39.1%) and finished in the top 12 in key defensive categories: scoring (10th - 19.8 ppg), passing (11th – 225.6 ypg) and total defense (12th - 337.0 ypg). He made several lineup changes in Week 5, helping the rush defense improve by 50 yards per game through the final 12 games of the season to rank seventh in the NFL during that span (98.8 ypg).
On the offensive side of the ball, Fangio inserted rookie quarterback Drew Lock as the starter in Week 13. Lock went on to match Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway for the most wins (4) by a first-year quarterback in team history as the Broncos ended 2019 on a strong note.
Outside linebacker Von Miller and second-year wide receiver Courtland Sutton each were named to the Pro Bowl while Simmons earned his first Associated Press All-Pro (second team) honor. The team's top two draft selections, tight end Noah Fant and guard Dalton Risner, both earned PFWA All-Rookie recognition as the team's rookie class combined to play 4,290 total snaps—the sixth most in the NFL.
Leading a defense that ranked among the NFL's top-8 in passing yards from 2011-18, Fangio's teams have ranked among the league's top-5 in fewest defensive penalties in four of the last six years (T-5th in 2020).
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 helping the team to a 12-1 finish and a victory in the Orange Bowl—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 they 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 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.
