Could former Broncos HC Vic Fangio be a fit for the Jaguars?
Former Denver Broncos head coach has interviewed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. We examine if he would be a good fit as their next head coach.
In short order after being informed by the Denver Broncos that he would not be returning for the 2022 NFL season, Vic Fangio may have secured another opportunity as a head coach.
While reports of a private plane owned by the Jaguars arriving in Denver earlier this week surfaced, many thought the team could be making a surprise visit while Nathaniel Hackett was still in Denver to reach out to him. Of course, as we now know, Nathaniel Hackett has now agreed to be the head coach of the Denver Broncos.
However, that proved to not be the case, as the team plane was actually in Denver to pick up the Broncos’ former HC to bring in for an interview.
After going 19-30 in his three seasons as a head coach in Denver, it was likely dismissed by most that Fangio may get another opportunity as a head coach. Most surmised that he would most likely return to his former gig as a defensive coordinator, where he has truly excelled and what landed him his first head coaching gig with the Broncos three years ago.
However, as we all know, even the most brilliant coordinators do not always translate over to successful NFL head coaches. Wade Phillips is a prime example–though one of the most brilliant minds to ever call a defense for the Denver Broncos, he finished 16-16 in the two seasons he served as their head coach.
Vic Fangio was dramatically less successful than Phillips and is still being considered as an option for the Jacksonville Jaguars to be their next head coach after their disastrous 2021 campaign with Urban Meyer.
While it is unlikely that Fangio could top the Urban Meyer experiment in negative outcomes, could he truly be a good fit for the team?
One thing to consider when considering Vic Fangio as a head coaching candidate is that the Denver Broncos’ QB carousel was spinning as usual in his tenure with the team, and the team once again was unable to secure a franchise QB. Of course, it is difficult to win football games without decent quarterback play, even if you do boast a top-notch defensive unit.
However, Vic Fangio’s treatment of Drew Lock in his final season with the team left a sour taste in the mouths of many a Denver Broncos fan, as they felt he was never truly given a fair chance to lead the team, even when it was clear that Teddy Bridgewater was not meeting the standards of playing winning football.
We can’t forget Fangio’s selection of Pat Shurmur as the offensive coordinator, and choosing to ride with Shurmur for one more year even after it was clear that his strategy was wildly ineffective, good quarterback or not.
Now, one must consider the situation Fangio would be entering in Jacksonville. One major upside that Fangio has not yet encountered as a head coach would be coming into a situation where he need not panic about finding the right quarterback, as the Jaguars have former first overall pick and one of the best prospects in young Trevor Lawrence.
Another component of this potential marriage for Vic Fangio is that he would potentially once again be working alongside Jaguars GM Trent Baalke, who he worked with in San Fransisco under Jim Harbaugh. If Jaguars owner Shad Khan is truly interested in retaining Baalke, Fangio could be a great option. Why?
Based on reports, not many other candidates are willing to work with Baalke, even citing that they will not interview unless he is replaced. Another report has surfaced that Byron Leftwich, who seemingly had locked up the Jaguars gig, would not accept the job unless Baalke was fired (per PFT).
There would also be offensive concerns to address if Fangio was hired on as the head coach. It would be crucial that he finally got his hire right for offensive coordinator, or he would run the risk of stunting the development of one of the most promising young quarterbacks in football.
Jacksonville also must address needs at their skill positions, needing to upgrade especially at wide receiver. However, Jacksonville is in good position with having both the first overall pick and touting hefty available cap space.
It also could be possible that though Fangio is interviewing for the head coaching vacancy, he could still be offered a position at defensive coordinator if the Jaguars do end up hiring Leftwich for the head coaching job. This could be especially appealing for Fangio, who likely recognizes that his chances of being a head coach in the NFL have drastically dropped.
Overall, considering all of these factors, though Vic Fangio could not find success as a head coach with the Denver Broncos, he may have a chance to redeem himself as a head coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
However, it feels as if his success rate would rely too heavily on situational coaching, and his selection as offensive coordinator would be too tangled up with his performance.
While this idea is certainly intriguing, it would likely be best for both parties if Fangio were to be named as their defensive coordinator, where we know he will find success.