ATLANTA — In his first month after being hired as the Broncos' new head coach, Vic Fangio has added a second award recognizing him as the top assistant coach in 2018.
Fangio was voted the 2018 AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year on Saturday, less than a month after receiving the same award from the Pro Football Writers of America.
Under Fangio's watchful eye, the Bears limited opponents to the fewest yards per play, fewest points per game and picked off opponents' passes more often than any other team in 2018. It was the culmination of a four-year tenure that began after the Bears ranked 30th in yards allowed per game in 2014.
Though Fangio will no longer be an assistant coach, he said he will still ensure he can have an impact on the defense.
"[T]hey hired me because of my work on the defensive side of the ball," Fangio said in his introductory press conference in January. "I'm going to give them my work on the defensive side of the ball. I believe, for the most part, I'm pretty good at it. So, I'm going to do it. There's several offensive head coaches that still call plays. Not all of them [do], but I will have a staff that I will work close with. They'll understand everything we want to do and are doing. I think it's important that I do it. I want to do it, and look forward to it."
