Like many of his peers, Vic Fangio is struggling in his first season as an NFL head coach. However, the Denver Broncos’ 3-6 record may not be as concerning as the way things have been going for the team off the field.
Fangio has struggled to connect with Broncos players and members of his coaching staff in his first season in charge of the team, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports. While Denver’s defense has played well under the former defensive coordinator, La Canfora says there has been “plenty of internal strife” with the organization this year, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
Fangio has reportedly butted heads with some of his offensive assistants, and those rifts are said to be part of the reason veteran wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders wanted a trade. One source told La Canfora that Fangio has a “negative reaction to almost every offensive play call” during games and makes his opinion clear through his headset. Here’s more:
Other sources noted a disconnect between the offense and defense as well, with Fangio’s “people skills,” in their minds, lacking. There is almost no discussion beyond football, sources said, and that, coupled with some staff and personnel issues as well as lingering angst over an eventual sale of this franchise, has created a difficult climate around the team.
“Pretty much everyone gets treated like (crap),” said one source with knowledge of the situation, “but if anything I think it’s brought the (coaches) on offense closer together.”
None of that is good news for a team that hired Fangio after firing Vance Joseph following just two seasons with the team for the former coach. Broncos president of football operations has struggled to find stability at two of the most important spots on his team in recent years — quarterback and head coach.
The way Joe Flacco ripped Denver’s coaching staff after what turned out to be his final start of the season was quite alarming, and frustration is to be expected during a disappointing year. However, Elway may have yet another difficult decision to make with a head coach if things continue along their current path down the stretch.
