NEWSLETTER
The Packers have beaten the Bears in 17 of their last 20 meetings, so you would think the old adage “If you can’t beat ’em, hire ’em away” wouldn’t apply. But the waves of change that is the 2018 season could lead to some new thinking for That Team in Wisconsin.
A recent piece from Tom Silverstein of the USA Today backed PackersNews.com essentially presses the Packers to make an effort to interview Bears Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio for their vacant head-coaching position.
To be clear, Silverstein isn’t advocating for Fangio’s hiring and doesn’t come off as believing the Bears DC is a perfect fit for the gig. HOWEVER, the sentiment here is that not interviewing Fangio would be a blatant disservice to an organization seeking an edge. Silverstein notes that defensive-minded coaches Mike Zimmer (Vikings) and Matt Patricia (Lions) have home wins against the Packers this season and their defensive wizardry could be a force to be reckon with moving forward as those teams continue to build up that side of the ball in the vision of their head coaches. But since neither of those coaches is jumping ship any time soon, interviewing the defensive coordinator of a division rival that has a top defense (and one that has flummoxed quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the past) isn’t some half-baked idea.
Remember, Fangio was a free agent last offseason and there were signs pointing from every direction at him being the top candidate to replace the out-going Dom Capers. Green Bay ultimately hired Mike Pettine to run their defense, while seemingly not giving Fangio the type of attention once expected.
In the end, I can’t help but wonder about how Fangio would feel about being approached for a head-coaching opportunity by Green Bay one year after being passed over for their defensive coordinator position. Getting snubbed in that manner sure would stick in my craw for a hot minute, that’s for sure.
