Thanks to COVID-19, the Broncos will be without seven starters for their Week 17 battle against the Chargers Sunday afternoon, a reality that could make it more difficult for head coach Vic Fangio to stick around for a fourth season. As Troy Renck of Denver 7 observes, Fangio may need to win the final two games of the 2021 campaign to keep his job.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com writes that Fangio’s status is indeed up in the air, and in addition to a strong showing over the next two games, GM George Paton might require his head coach to lay out a compelling strategy to improve the team’s offense.
Obviously, Paton himself will have a significant say in that, as Denver could once again be in the market for a high-profile quarterback like Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson. But after Fangio’s refusal to pull play-calling duties from OC Pat Shurmur caused some locker room tension earlier this year, Paton would undoubtedly like some reassurance that any QB he acquires will be well-positioned to succeed.
Paton and Fangio do have a strong working relationship, and we heard earlier this year that the first-year GM is not necessarily looking to bring in his own leader. He is, however, doing his due diligence. Per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, team brass has had internal discussions about the possibility of moving on from Fangio and has done background work on potential HC candidates. Fangio’s staffers, meanwhile, are preparing to seek new employment.
If Fangio does get the ax, he may not be without work for long. As La Canfora writes in a separate piece, the 63-year-old defensive guru will be high atop the wish lists of clubs in need of a DC, especially if such a club hires a first-year, offensive-minded head coach. That coach would love to have Fangio aboard not only for his defensive acumen, but because he could be entrusted to run half of the team while the HC focuses on building relationships and developing the offense.
It was Fangio’s work as the Bears’ defensive coordinator that landed him the Broncos’ HC job to begin with. He also served in that capacity with the Panthers, Colts, Texans, and 49ers.
More must-reads: