The Broncos have fired head coach Vic Fangio, per Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link). Fangio lasted three seasons in his post but failed to get his club to the playoffs in that time, so GM George Paton felt compelled to make a move. Mike Klis of 9News.com reports (via Twitter) that the team will also part ways with OC Pat Shurmur.
Denver lost its 2021 finale to the Chiefs last night, and in his postgame presser, Fangio lamented the fact that the other three clubs in the AFC West boast a top-flight quarterback, something the Broncos did not have during his tenure. Denver did select Drew Lock in the second round of the 2019 draft, Fangio’s first as a head coach, and while Lock presently looks like another QB misstep in the John Elway-as-GM era, the inability of Fangio and his staff to develop the Missouri passer certainly contributed to Fangio’s demise.
Offensive ineptitude was, unfortunately, a hallmark of the Fangio regime. As Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post observes, the Broncos failed to score 20 points in a game 29 times in Fangio’s 49 games as head coach, and after a bottom-five showing in terms of both total offense and points per game in 2019, Fangio fired then-OC Rich Scangarello and replaced him with Shurmur, who had just been axed as head coach of the Giants.
The Broncos’ offensive output marginally improved during Shurmur’s time as OC, but it was simply not enough for either him or Fangio to keep their jobs (Shurmur’s contract was reportedly for two years, so Denver will simply let his deal expire). Fangio’s refusal to pull play-calling duties from Shurmur caused some locker room tension earlier this year, and while Shurmur was a hot offensive coordinator candidate before he accepted the post with the Broncos, his stock has likely dropped quite a bit.
Fangio, though, should land on his feet. We previously heard that the acclaimed defensive mind, who has served as DC of the Panthers, Colts, Texans, 49ers, and Bears, would be in high demand for a defensive coordinator position if he were to be fired by the Broncos, so he can probably expect a few interview requests in short order. The Broncos finished the 2021 campaign with a top-three defense in terms of points allowed per game.
Paton will have full authority to select the next head coach, as team president/CEO Joe Ellis confirmed in a statement. Paton’s reputation, along with the Broncos’ history and a roster that appears to be just a quarterback away from legitimate contention — something that Paton will try to rectify this offseason — should allow the club to attract any number of top-tier candidates. Albert Breer of SI.com identifies Packers OC Nathaniel Hackett and Cowboys DC Dan Quinn as possible targets, and Quinn and Paton do have a history that dates back to their days with the Dolphins in 2005.
However, Paton may elect to move forward with an offensive-minded candidate, which could give the edge to Hackett or someone like Buccaneers OC Byron Leftwich. Though the Broncos could be sold as soon as the spring (per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports), the imminent prospect of new ownership is not likely to deter candidates for the HC job.
Fangio’s statement on his dismissal can be found here, and Paton’s can be found here.
Three seasons!? I thought he was there for only two. Yeah, it’s time to go. He seems good but that team is way too talented for this.
Not sure he’s meant to be a great head coach, but I don’t think his QB situation ever gave him a fair shake. If I were hiring an offensive minded head coach this offseason, I’d back up the truck for Fangio to be defensive coordinator.
Had he had a competent QB, he’d still be the HC and the broncos are in the playoffs.
Whoever follows him is gonna have the same problem.
100 percent, for all his flaws, the Broncos lost a lot of close games due to bad offense. Vic would still be employed if Elway’s QBs and pass-pro OL didn’t mostly suck.
I think that this is a mistake in all honesty for Denver. That defense played WAAAY above where it should have with all its injuries the last two years. They just drafted Surtain for Fangio. The right QB and anybody semi-competent at offensive coordinator would have fixed this team.
They could have drafted Josh Allen and Mac Jones when they had the chance.
Good thing John Elway is still retained!
Please tell me that’s sarcasm, as I feel it is, in which case I agree. Elway needs to retire.
Dude had Teddy Bridgewater, Brett Rypien, and Drew Lock. Get him a better QB and you make the playoffs. Not on him imo.
Agreed. Would be happy if he rejoined Harbaugh in Vegas next season. Gus Bradley has done a fine job but Fangio is next level when it comes to defense.
Already a lot of chatter in Chicago about hiring Harbaugh and bringing back Fangio as DC. I love the Fangio part, but Harbaugh- No thanks. Yes, he won in SF, but he alienated his QBs and pissed everyone off before leaving. That’s exactly what Fields doesn’t need.. I’d rather have Fangio over Harbaugh as HC. Heck, with a great OC, a better OL and a couple of solid WRs, Fields might have a chance to work out and Fangio would have the QB he never got in Denver… But of course, if Pace is still there, whatever the worst choice is, he’ll make it.
How would you feel about Daboll as head coach to develop Fields with Fangio as defensive coordinator to revitalize the defense and improve the lockerroom?
wagner 13… IF they could bring Fangio’s back as DC, that would be huge. The new HC could concentrate on Fields and the offense. There’ll be a lot of teams wanting him so they’d have to pony up to get him.
I think that will happen in Vegas
Im trying to figure out how he alienated a qb. Alex Smith flourished under him and Colin Kaepernick did as well and even had his best season in what was Harbaughs only non-winning season (8-8). Kaep received his extension just the year before Harbaugh left. Kaep did start getting into trouble with the league for outburst and not following league rules, the coach i guess i partially to blame for that but i cant see him alienating the qb. He even dealt alex smith when it was apparant he would not be in the future plans where he thrived with the chiefs under Reid.
If you want to blame Tomsula (coach after Harbaugh) for alienating Kaepernick i could agree with you as he was the one that benched Kaep and not harbaugh. Chip Kelly i think was the person that truly alienated him though by not naming Kaep season starter and thats when all the craziness happened with the trade requests and requesting change in contracts etc etc.
Harbaugh however turned the team from a sub 500 team to a team that lost in the nfc championship in one season and currently does not have a season with a losing record in the nfl.
I don’t agree with this, The Broncos have been a QB away from playoffs for his tenure, and what have they brought him? Joe Flacco, Drew Lock, Teddy B, F*cking Blake Bortles, and a WR starting at QB. Fangio did good work with the teams RB’s ex: Linsdey, Williams, Foreman, Gorden. And kept up the sucsess of the Broncos defense, Pat did need to go.
Would have him replace Ken Norton in Seattle.
Would have made a lot more sense to retain Fangio and hire a good OC but I guess the Bronco FO would rather lose games by a 40-35 score.
Be interesting to see if he gets another HC position if not he will definitely get a DC position.
Harbough and Fangio with the raiders would make a lot of sense.
I know Elway is a Bronco legend, but his oversight and control of QBs is not working.
He needs to release some of that authority.
Look at all the QBs they’ve tried:
Paxton Lynch, Trevor Semein, Brock Osweiller, Case Keemun, Joe Flacco, Drew Lock, Teddy Bridgewater. Miss anyone?
Some of those guys might be okay. But never developed.
Denver has had some good defenses during that time and could’ve been a good team.
Now they have a defense, good WRs, competent RBs, but still no QB.
kyle orton.
wasnt Rypien’s kid in there too?
To be fair, he has given that up. George Paton is calling the shots now.
Should’ve drafted Mac Jones when they had the chance.
They also need to get rid of the special teams coach. The Broncos were pathetic in that area this year.