NFL Rumors: Vic Fangio 'Unlikely' to Join Frank Reich's Panthers Staff as DC

Vic Fangio reportedly isn't expected to land in Carolina as the defensive coordinator under new Panthers head coach Frank Reich.

According to Joe Person of The Athletic, the Panthers have had follow-up discussions with Fangio since he interviewed for the DC position last week, but it is now considered "unlikely" that Carolina will hire him.

In the time since Fangio's interview, the Panthers have made their head coaching decision, choosing Reich over interim head coach Steve Wilks this week.

Reich spent parts of five seasons as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2022, going 40-33-1 with two playoff appearances, but he was fired after a 3-5-1 start this season.

Wilks impressively led the Panthers to a 6-6 mark as interim coach this season after the firing of Matt Rhule, making him a strong candidate for the job, but the Panthers instead went with a person who has deep ties to the organization.

Reich played quarterback for the Panthers in their inaugural season in 1995, going 0-3 in three starts.

His first order of business during his second stint in Carolina is to build a coaching staff, and Fangio unquestionably would have been a quality hire as DC.

While Fangio struggled as head coach of the Denver Broncos from 2019 to 2021, going just 19-30, he has long been regarded as one of the NFL's best defensive minds.

Prior to his Broncos head coaching tenure, Fangio was an NFL defensive coordinator for the Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears.

His greatest run of success came in San Francisco from 2011 to 2014 when the Niners ranked inside the top 10 in both scoring defense and total defense in four consecutive seasons.

In his final season as Bears DC in 2018, Chicago was first in scoring defense and third in total defense, and in his final season as Broncos head coach in 2021, Denver was third in scoring defense and eighth in total defense despite going just 7-10 as a team.

Carolina had a middle-of-the-pack defense last season, but the Panthers have some talented pieces who could form a top-flight defense if harnessed by the right coaching, including pass-rusher Brian Burns, defensive tackle Derrick Brown, cornerback Jaycee Horn and safety Jeremy Chinn.

Aside from the Panthers, Fangio has also interviewed with the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons, although the latter hired Ryan Nielsen as their DC this week.

While more openings are likely to be created, Fangio is currently down to the Dolphins as the only viable option, provided the Panthers are indeed expected to look elsewhere for their next DC.