Shortly after firing Dom Capers as their defensive coordinator, the Green Bay Packers are reportedly targeting the Chicago Bears' Vic Fangio.
According to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Bears' reigning defensive coordinator is Green Bay's “top choice,” despite the fact that Chicago wants to keep him.
“While the Bears would like to keep DC Vic Fangio — and new coach Matt Nagy has made moves to do so — the Packers loom and hope to set an interview. He is considered Green Bay's top choice. NFC North battle.”
Fangio's contract with the Bears expired on Tuesday, so he's free to discuss new deals with all interested franchises. Prior to that, the Bears were able to block an interview requested by the Cincinnati Bengals, who went on to hire Teryl Austin as their DC.
In addition to Fangio, the Packers have also expressed interest in former Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine and Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.
Bears general manager told Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times that he plans to let this process with Fangio “play out.”
“You know that I have a ton of respect for Vic, and we’re talking to Vic right now,” general manager Ryan Pace said. “We thought, let this play out. Matt’s just getting his feet set and after that, his first priority is going to be our existing staff and then attacking the coaching candidates.”
Fangio, who has coached in the NFL since he was 28 in 1986, served as the Bears' DC starting in 2015. Under his tutelage, Chicago's stop unit rose to the top 10 in both points against and total defense this season.
Capers was hired for the defensive coordinator position in Green Bay in 2009. After excelling in his first two seasons while helping the Packers win Super Bowl XLV, Capers' unit failed to finish in the top 10 in points against or total defense even once, regularly finishing in the 20s.
New Bears head coach Matt Nagy also talked about the preliminary discussions he's had with Fangio:
“We all are aware of that situation and that’s a very important hire for me, but there’s a lot of things that go into that decision, and Vic and I have talked, we understand that.”
Just another battle between the two oldest rivals in the NFL.
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