At 60 years old, Fangio is among the oldest head coaches currently in the leagueGETTY IMAGES
Broncos President of Football Operations & GM John Elway said that he "wanted a coach with proven 'greatness' on one side of the ball," and he "believes he found that" in former Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, according to Nicki Jhabvala of THE ATHLETIC. The decision to hire the 60-year-old Fangio "may seem perplexing" on the surface. Fangio is "among the oldest head coaches in the league when so many teams are looking to go with younger offensive coaches or even dive into the pool of college candidates." However, this hire is a "signal that finding the right fit was more important than finding a candidate with head-coaching experience or even one that specialized on offense" (THEATHLETIC.com, 1/9). In Denver, Ryan O'Halloran noted Fangio's "swath of experience ... clearly impressed Elway, who saw the Broncos unable to handle adversity the past two years" (DENVER POST, 1/10). Also in Denver, Mark Kiszla writes this hire can work if Elway can "finally stumble across an elite young quarterback." If this is "similar to the coaches previously employed by Elway," Fangio will "work under his boss' thumb" (DENVER POST, 1/10).
GOING THEIR OWN WAY: Many teams have opted for offensive-minded head coaches, but YAHOO SPORTS' Frank Schwab wrote it is "never bad to zig when everyone else zags." In another time, "not long ago, Fangio might have been by far the top candidate available" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/9). FS1's Marcellus Wiley said the Broncos are going to "zig while everyone else is zagging." Wiley: "I respect that uniqueness. Beyond that, defense is still this team's identity. That's where their money is so why not double down on that defense?" ("Speak For Yourself," FS1, 1/9). But in Colorado Springs, Paul Klee wrote this is "no revamp, remodel, rebuild." Hiring Fangio, "if anything, it's more of a rerun." Klee: "It's the wrong way to go -- not with Fangio ... but for the Broncos." This is a team that is "holding on to the past" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 1/10).
