The New York Giants are on the search for a new defensive coordinator. Patrick Graham left to take the same position with the Las Vegas Raiders this week after spending 2020-2021 with New York. According to Jordan Schultz, several people in the Giants’ organization are high on Vic Fangio to potentially replace Patrick Graham as DC.
Three reasons the Giants should hire Vic Fangio as DC
Head-coaching experience
Vic Fangio most recently served as the head coach of the Denver Broncos from 2019 to 2021. His head coaching record was 19-30 (.388). Denver finished fourth in the AFC West each of the last two years, but this valuable experience should not take away from Fangio’s credibility as a defensive coordinator.
The Giants have, so far, built a very inexperienced coaching staff. Brian Daboll is a first-time head coach while Mike Kafka is also a first-time offensive coordinator. It would be wise to hire a former head coach with a copious amount of coaching experience as a defensive coordinator.
Elite defenses
Denver still finished eighth in defense this season, despite their last-place finish in the competitive AFC West. This should come as no surprise, though, as Vic Fangio historically coaches top-ranking defenses.
Before being hired as the head coach of the Broncos, Fangio was a defensive coordinator from 2011 to 2018 for two of the best defenses in the NFL. First, Fangio coordinated the San Fransisco 49ers’ elite defenses that dominated the NFC at the start of the last decade. He then moved to Chicago to coach Khalil Mack and the Bears. In his final season with Chicago (2018), Vic Fangio won the award for AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year.
Vic Fangio’s 2018 Bears defense led the NFL in turnovers forced (36) and interceptions (27). Chicago was also ranked third in total defense, second in yards per play allowed, and first in scoring defense.
Running a 3-4 defensive scheme
Vic Fangio runs a 3-4 defensive scheme. This matches up with the personnel that the Giants currently have on their roster. Former Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham also ran a 3-4 defensive scheme. Hiring Fangio would make the transition for the players currently on Big Blue’s roster much easier.
Switching base defensive formations can have some adverse effects on a team. Switch from 3-4 to 4-3 or vice versa could lead to a complete roster overhaul if the Giants do not feel like they have the personnel to run four down linemen. To avoid that rebuild, the New York Giants should hire a defensive coordinator that runs a 3-4 defensive scheme, and Vic Fangio might just be the best candidate of that kind.