Is Vic Fangio as Good as Gone?
Is Vic Fangio planning on leaving the Chicago Bears?
Since hiring Matt Nagy as the team’s new head coach, the Chicago Bears have been clear about something: they want Vic Fangio to return as defensive coordinator. Nagy and Ryan Pace stated that very clearly in the press conference earlier this week and have been consistent with that message on any other media appearances they’ve done.
The national media was definitely putting out the vibe that it appeared Fangio was going to stay. It almost seemed like T’s needed to be crossed, I’s needed to be dotted and Fangio would be back in Chicago.
The next domino to fall: There is still work to be done, but the likelihood now is that new #Bears coach Matt Nagy keeps defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. The spots are filling up.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 10, 2018
Nagy was announced Monday. Bears fans were hopeful that a Fangio extension would be announced at the press conference on Tuesday, but there was no news. Tuesday became Wednesday. Wednesday became Thursday. Thursday is now Friday and still no Vic Fangio.
What is the hold up? Is Fangio holding out for more cash? Is he hoping that another job opens up? There wasn’t much news on the Fangio front, but some started circulating Thursday night.
#AZCardinals DC James Bettcher still in play with Chicago. #Bears DC Vic Fangio will likely follow Pat Shurmur wherever he lands.
— Mike Jurecki (@mikejurecki) January 12, 2018
With more insiders starting to feel that Fangio is waiting for Shurmur, the Bears are stuck in a holding pattern. Pat Shurmur can’t sign with the Arizona Cardinals or wherever he might end up until the Minnesota Vikings lose. The Vikings could be playing for another 3+ weeks. There is also a chance that Shurmur does NOT get a head coaching position this year. When coaches are leaving their current playoff teams, reports of their new team almost always leak out. Nothing has leaked with Shurmur.
More from Bear Goggles On
- Franchise tag and transition tag windows open for Chicago Bears and NFL
- How the Chicago Bears can control the running back market in 2023
- The Chicago Bears can own the city of Chicago moving forward
- Chicago Bears NFL Combine Preview: Quarterback
- 7 best free agent tackle options for Chicago Bears
Could the Bears be waiting on Shurmur? Perhaps Fangio told the Bears he will stay if Shurmur doesn’t get a head coaching job. There has been very little information on the Fangio front over the last few days, but there is definitely a reason for the delay.
If Fangio has told the Bears they may need to wait as much as a month, perhaps the Bears have decided to wait out the Divisional Playoffs and see if the Vikings are eliminated, or perhaps the Bears know if Shurmur gets a job, it would be with the Arizona Cardinals, and if Fangio heads to Arizona, the Bears could sign the Cardinals’ current DC, James Bettcher. Bettcher is from NW Indiana and grew up a Bears’ fan. Bruce Arians has stated he’s only a couple of years away from becoming an NFL head coach and he’s one of the most respected defensive minds in the game.
The Bears certainly don’t want to wait forever, but their plan may be Fangio or Bettcher. The only concern would be if Shurmur is hired by another team, Fangio goes with him, and Bettcher stays in Arizona. That would be a nightmare for Pace and Nagy. For now, everyone continues to wait and see how everything shakes out.