Bears' Vic Fangio Would Be Interested In 'The Right Opportunity' As Head Coach
By Chris Emma--
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) -- Vic Fangio has spent 36 years as a defensive assistant coach, working his way to being heralded as one of the top defensive coordinators in football.
At the age of 57, working on a tremendous coaching career, he's still open to becoming a head coach.
"If (it's) the right opportunity and people were interested, yeah, I'd certainly listen," Fangio said Wednesday.
Fangio came to Chicago last January to join John Fox's new Bears coaching staff after the 49ers let him walk. When San Francisco had its head coaching opening last year, it came close to locking in Adam Gase before pulling a power play that led to former defensive line coach Jim Tomsula being hired. The 49ers never even interviewed Fangio.
In turn, Gase and Fangio fell from the 49ers' grasp to Fox's new regime in Chicago. Fangio has bettered the Bears defense, admitting Wednesday that he's pleased with the improvements but wants to see even more. Entering Week 17, the Bears rank 16th in total defense after a disastrous 2014 campaign.
"It's not where we want it to be," Fangio said.
The Bears have a surefire head coaching candidate in Gase, who's likely to be snatched away by a suitor, but Fangio could be considered a target, too.
While it's not common for a longtime assistant of nearly four decades to wait this long for becoming a head coach, there's precedent. Veteran defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau accepted his first head coaching position at the age of 62, in 2000 with the Bengals after after two-and-a-half decades as an assistant. LeBeau went 12-33 in three seasons with Cincinnati and spent the 2015 season as a defensive assistant with the Titans.
For Fangio, they key would be to find the ideal situation, one with comfort and sensible structure. He's in a great place as Bears defensive coordinator, a position that holds security for a rebuilding franchise that's shown progress in 2015. His background as a defensive coordinator will bring great admiration, though he could be passed on again because of his age and seniority in one position.
After many years in the NFL, there are no surprises to Fangio on how the hiring of head coaches works.
Fangio's willing to explore that next step if the right opportunity arises, but he's been passed on many times before.
"If I happen to fit that mold of what they're looking for," Fangio said, "that would be great."
Chris Emma covers the Chicago sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.
