5 requirements if Vic Fangio is back with the Broncos in 2022
5. Get the man a quarterback
If Vic Fangio is fired by the Denver Broncos — and there are plenty of valid reasons for the team to do that at this point — his one legitimate gripe after three seasons is this: If he had strong quarterback play, things could have been vastly different.
The 2019 season was ugly and Joe Flacco was always a bad idea.
The 2020 season with a change in the offensive scheme, Pat Shurmur trying to fit all of the square pegs on the roster into the round hole that is his offense, and the pandemic all combined together for an absolute disaster at the QB position.
The 2021 season with Teddy Bridgewater is being dubbed by some as the “best” in the post-Peyton Manning era, but in all honesty, very little changed over the last three years when it comes to offensive efficiency.
Why?
The primary reason is obviously the quarterback position. I have said before and I’ll say again — if Vic Fangio had a star QB at the helm, he’d probably look like a pretty darn good head coach. Of course, that’s far easier said than done and he took the Denver job knowing full well the QB situation.
Still, another opportunity to take a swing at the QB position in 2022 could turn things around for all parties.
If the Broncos are able to make a deal for a top-flight veteran quarterback — Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson — or even from the tier below that — Kirk Cousins, Matt Ryan, Baker Mayfield, Derek Carr, etc. — it’s not outlandish to think the Broncos could be legitimate Super Bowl contenders with any of those guys and probably a few others.
George Paton has his work cut out for him in the 2022 offseason. Regardless of who is the head coach, that guy is going to need a QB to succeed. Vic Fangio’s pitch will almost undoubtedly be: Why not let that guy be me?