49ers defensive coordinator candidate No. 1: Vic Fangio
Yes, the name most expected to be here. And, at least according to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Mike Silver, he’s still available:
For what it's worth, Vic Fangio told me late last night, "Nothing has been decided on my end." There is a huge amount of mutual respect between Kyle Shanahan and Fangio, a highly successful Niners DC under Jim Harbaugh. And it appears the 49ers will have an opening soon.
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) January 30, 2023
As of this writing, former Broncos head coach Vic Fangio is not inking a deal with the Dolphins to serve under Mike McDaniel. There was chatter that’d be the case, but Silver reported otherwise.
Perhaps Fangio wanted a chance to return to the Bay Area where he spent 2011 through 2014 on Jim Harbaugh’s staff.
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Fangio’s first and last shot at being a head coach didn’t go well, of course, but he’s about as well-established and proven a coordinator as there is, and he’ll be a notable commodity.
Reading between the lines of Silver’s tweet, it would appear as if Kyle Shanahan is already wanting Fangio on his staff as defensive coordinator next year.
And that might be the best possible outcome to replace DeMeco Ryans, too.