Chicago Bears Hire Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio: Confessions from a 49ers Fan
By Mike Praser
May 28, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio (right) instructs linebacker Aaron Lynch (59) during organized team activities at the SAP Performance Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
No more Mel Tucker. That is all you need to say to make Bears fans happy after the last two seasons of suckatude on defense. It almost doesn’t matter who the Bears hired, as long as Tucker was gone. To replace Mel Tucker, Head Coach John Fox and the Chicago Bears hire Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio and I was curious what 49ers fans had to say about it. I contacted Orly Jr. from Niner Noise after reading his article on why the 49ers passed on Vic Fangio for their head coach opening.
Before we begin, can you tell our readers about yourself?
"My name is Orly Jr., and I am a co-editor for NinerNoise along with Doug Totten. I’ve been a die hard 49er fan since 1989, and I can recall how each season ended for the 49ers since 1983, that’s how much I love this team. You can argue about who the best franchise is in football, but nobody can ever say without debate, that they had the best QB and WR in NFL history."
What can you tell Bears fans about Vic Fangio?
"Fangio is a great defensive coordinator and was an even better signing for the Chicago Bears. In each of his four seasons with the 49ers, San Francisco had a top 10 defense, this season was his most impressive when you consider the amount of starters he lost and yet, the 49ers still finished with a Top 5 unit."
Why in the world would the 49ers let him get away?
"Fangio’s bluntness didn’t help at a time when it appears that the 49ers are looking for coaches that are favorable to what they want. Fangio pretty much issued an ultimatum that if Adam Gase was named HC he was out, but that he would stay if Mike Shanahan was named HC. It’s sad to see a talent like Fangio go, but the 49ers have made it clear who they want and don’t want."
That’s crazy. I don’t understand what is happening in San Francisco. What kind of defense did Fangio run?
"Mostly a 3-4 with Justin Smith playing both DT and DE. He would also use linebackers Aldon Smith, Dan Skuta, Ahmad Brooks and Aaron Lynch as edge pass rushers."
Since the Bears don’t have enough quality players on defense, this might be the right time to switch to a 3-4 or some sort of hybrid defense. When the Bears initially fired Marc Trestman I was really hoping that they would be able to go after Jim Harbaugh. Do you think that getting Fangio is the next best thing to having Jim Harbaugh coached team?
"Fangio may end up nabbing a couple of 49ers and taking them to Chicago. Ahmad Brooks is one name that has been mentioned as not coming back due to his salary ($9M) and the emergence of Lynch. Another name mentioned is Skuta, who is a solid player. As a Niners fan, I hope we don’t lose anybody but we know the game. The Bears need a defense if they want to compete in the North and so I’d expect them to draft and sign FAs geared towards the defense. Chicago is headed in the right direction."
The Bears have a new defensive coordinator, and he might be shaking things up here in Chicago. Do you think the Bears can successfully move to a 3-4 style defense in one season? What kind of defense do you think the Bears should run? What do you think about the hiring of Vic Fangio? Let us know in the comments section below. If you want to know more about Vic Fangio, check out our article on what he brings to the Bears. And as always…