One of the biggest fears for Chicago Bears fans as the 2017 season draws to a close is whether defensive coordinator Vic Fangio can be persuaded to stay. He by far has been the bright spot of this coaching staff. At present he’s the only one who’s worth keeping around. It’s not a surprise. With one game to go his defense ranks eighth in yards and 10th in points allowed. He’s done a phenomenal job given the injuries suffered by this team.
At the same time with John Fox all but certain to get fired, Fangio’s fate is unknown. Rumors persist that he’s likely to leave. Others have said the Bears are trying to extend him in hopes the next head coach might be willing to keep him on. It’s still not impossible but the odds don’t favor it happening.
That creates a certain degree of concern. It feels like this Bears defense is ready to become one of the top units in the NFL. Losing the coach who’s helped make it happen at such a critical juncture would be a tough blow. That is unless they find somebody who might be able to replace what he brings to the table.
Chuck Pagano could take over for Vic Fangio
Don’t laugh. It’s not a joke. Chuck Pagano these days is an embattled coach. That’s a shame. It feels like Indianapolis Colts fans have truly taken for granted what he’s been able to do. The man was handed a rather modest roster when he took over that only got worse as the years went on. Yet he reached the playoffs three-straight years and didn’t have a losing season until 2017. Now it appears he’s about to get fired.
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Chuck Pagano told his team that Sunday's game is "our last rodeo together."
I don't think he means just for the 2017 season.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) December 27, 2017
Good stuff here from #Colts players on Chuck Pagano's murky future, plus the four words he told Jacoby Brissett before a game that the QB will never forget: https://t.co/37ZTBS8VqH
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) December 20, 2017
Amidst the firm desires by Colts fans to see him gone, it’s important to note that Pagano will and should be a hot commodity when that happens. Not as a head coach but as a defensive coordinator. In 2011 he held that same job for the Baltimore Ravens. Their 3-4 unit was ranked 3rd overall in the NFL, suffocating opponents most of the season. The year after he left, it fell to 17th. That fact is overshadowed because they won the Super Bowl.
Even his units in Indianapolis haven’t been terrible. In 2013 they gave up the ninth-fewest points in the league. A year later when they reached the AFC championship they were the 11th overall unit. He tends to get the most from the players he has.
Pagano has the background and pedigree
Pagano has a reputation for being competitive, motivating and detailed in his approach. It’s why he had success as a head coach. Narrow the focus for him to just the defense and it isn’t hard to see him keeping this train on the tracks for the Bears going into 2018. There is a long history of former head coaches who found great success as coordinators after their initial runs. There’s no reason to think he’d be different.
