Report: Vic Fangio is an option to be next Broncos defensive coordinator

Welcome back, Uncle Vic?

Vic Fangio, the Denver Broncos head coach from 2019-2021, is in play to return to the franchise as defensive coordinator. New head coach Sean Payton would like to work with Fangio, and a reunion could be in the works.

According to 104.3 The Fan and 9NEWS Broncos insider Mike Klis, the decision will be Payton’s choice. But current DC Ejiro Evero is also highly-regarded by the organization.

Sean Payton has been connected w/Vic Fangio as DC, but Broncos love Ejiro Evero and Evero is under contract.
Ultimately, Payton's call. Also: Would Fangio want to return 1 yr after he was let go as HC? And does Evero want to stay after his best friend Hackett dismissed? #9sports

— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) February 1, 2023

It’s a fascinating report, considering the Broncos fired Fangio fewer than 13 months ago. We’ve seen NFL coaches return to places before (see: Phillips, Wade), but this feels awfully quick. Fangio went 19-30 as Denver’s coach and never had a winning-season, with his best mark coming at 7-9 in 2019.

But Fangio was one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL before taking the Broncos head-coaching job. He was widely respected and led consistently solid defenses in San Francisco and Chicago prior to accepting the Denver gig a few years back.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported that Payton and Fangio wanted to work together back on Dec. 24, two days before the Broncos fired head coach Nathaniel Hackett.

“In an ideal world, Payton and Fangio would like to join forces in 2023 and provide a team with the offensive and defensive mindsets it would need to form a top coaching duo,” Schefter wrote at the time.

Fangio’s name popped up in recent days as the choice to be the Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator, but that report was premature. His name’s also been linked to the San Francisco 49ers, with DC DeMeco Ryans departing to lead the Houston Texans.

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