Account
Jaguars Rumors: Ex-Broncos HC Vic Fangio Interviewed to Replace Urban Meyer as HC
January 27, 2022
Former Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio is reportedly a person of interest in the Jacksonville Jaguars' head coaching search.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Jaguars sent a private plane to Denver on Monday to pick up Fangio, and he ultimately interviewed for the AFC South team.
The Broncos fired Fangio at the conclusion of the 2021 regular season, while the Jags are looking to replace Urban Meyer, who was fired in the midst of his first season with the team.
In his three seasons as head coach in Denver, Fangio went just 19-30 and failed to take the Broncos to the playoffs.
Fangio is a defensive specialist with plenty of experience as an NFL defensive coordinator, and the Broncos did largely thrive in that area during his tenure.
They were especially good on defense this season, ranking eighth in total defense and third in scoring defense despite finishing with a 7-10 record.
Their biggest issue was offense, as the team never ranked better than 19th in total yardage or 23rd in scoring while Fangio was there.
That largely had to do with the team's inability to find a quality starting quarterback, with Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock both falling short of expectations.
In Jacksonville, Fangio would take over a team that ranked 27th in total offense and 32nd in scoring this season, although there is hope for improvement in the future because of the presence of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.
The Jaguars desperately need to get it right with their new head coach since the hiring of Meyer was an unmitigated failure.
In addition to the team going 2-11 under his leadership, Meyer was responsible for plenty of controversy, including video of him touching a woman who wasn't his wife at his Ohio restaurant and an allegation from former Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo that Meyer kicked him before a game.
If the Jaguars hire Fangio, it will come from a place of familiarity, as Jags general manager Trent Baalke and Fangio were both part of the San Francisco 49ers organization from 2011-14.
In addition to Fangio, the Jaguars have interviewed former Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson, Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.
Hackett and Eberflus are reportedly no longer available after accepting head-coaching jobs with the Broncos and Chicago Bears, respectively.
With Jacksonville's list of candidates dwindling, Fangio landing the job isn't out of the question, especially when considering his connection to Baalke.