As the Denver Broncos prepare to play the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, there are mounting reports that head coach Vic Fangio could be fired this week. The rumors have come from ESPN reporter Adam Schefter, who said he “doesn’t know exactly how things will shake out” but it’s very likely that Fangio is in trouble. If true then Mike McCoy would take over as interim head coach for game one of 2018 and potentially lead them deep into season if they were to make a playoff run. At 42 years old, an older age than most coaches start at now when hired midseason these days with their careers still intact
The “broncos coach, dies” is a rumor that has been circulating the internet. Vic Fangio could be fired this week.
Getty Vic Vangio was mentioned as one of the head coaches that might lose their positions before the end of the year. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Justin K. Aller) )
The Denver Broncos fell to 7-8 on the season after losing a must-win game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 16. Denver’s postseason aspirations are on life support, yet they aren’t entirely gone.
With just two weeks left in the regular season in 2021, the Broncos will need a miracle to secure a wildcard place. If they manage to pull off a remarkable run to a postseason berth, they may do it without head coach Vic Fangio at the helm.
Fangio’s name appears on a list of head coaches who might be fired as soon as Monday, December 27, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, ahead of a crucial deadline on Tuesday, December 28.
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The Importance of December 28th
“Teams with head-coaching openings as of 8 a.m. ET on Tuesday, as well as teams that have notified their coaches they won’t be returning,” Florio writes before his list, “may begin interviewing assistant coaches from other teams, 12 days before the regular season ends.”
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network first reported on the letter given to all 32 NFL teams explaining the changes to the head coach hiring window rules on October 27.
In 2020, the NFL implemented a similar adjustment, but only one day before the window began, giving clubs little time to prepare.
The Broncos and other teams have known about the change for some time, which means that a few clubs may act before December 28.
The head coaches of the Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars have already been dismissed, and more vacant coaching positions are expected around the league in the near future. As a result, there will be fierce competition for the best assistant coach prospects. A 12-day head start may not sound like much, but given that seven or more clubs might be looking for a new head coach shortly, the additional time could be quite useful.
The Broncos’ sale might prevent Fangio from being fired.
Only Matt Rhule of the Carolina Panthers and Matt Nagy of the Chicago Bears should be more afraid about losing their jobs before December 28 than Fangio. While Fangio might be dismissed before December 28, there’s a chance his destiny will be postponed for a variety of reasons.
Broncos GM George Paton wants to select his own head coach, according to Florio, however the Broncos’ poor playoff hopes and probable sale “may encourage the present power structure to tread water so that the next owner can pick the next head coach, potentially after 2022.”
Even if a Broncos sale is close, as stated in a Sportico piece on December 2, the procedure takes time. As a result, the Broncos may not be able to wait for a new owner to take control before selecting a new head coach. It’s also another reason why they shouldn’t wait to move on from Fangio and take advantage of the opportunity that will open up.
With the ownership situation in flux, movements in senior roles may be put on hold, and the Broncos’ brass may find maintaining Fangio appealing. While it’s unlikely to please the fans, Florio believes it’s a possibility.
Earlier this season, Paton praised Fangio.
It’s difficult to see Fangio maintaining his job; nonetheless, Paton has previously praised Fangio’s performance this season.
“Vic Fangio is one of the reasons I chose this position,” Paton remarked during a news conference on November 2. “With Vic, it hasn’t been easy this year; we’ve had a lot of obstacles to overcome, and the thing I like about him is that he hasn’t flinched.”
Since Paton’s remarks, the Broncos have gone 3-4, with a 3-7 conference record and a 1-3 record versus the AFC West. When you combine that with the likelihood of missing the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, Fangio’s case for preserving his job beyond this season becomes much thinner.
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The “broncos safety” is a rumor that the Denver Broncos could fire head coach Vic Fangio this week. The team has not commented on the rumors, but it would be a huge loss for the team.
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