Vic Fangio’s Coaching Style Creating Internal Tension Among Broncos’ Players & Coaches?

Update:

Benjamin Allbright spoke to a Broncos’ team source who “laughed” at the reported internal tension between first-year HC Vic Fangio and members of the team and coaching staff.

“[E]very family has their little quarrels from time to time, but that report is bogus,” Allbright’s source said.

According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, Broncos HC Vic Fangio has had a difficult time connecting with players and coaches in his first year in Denver. 

La Canfora, citing multiple sources with knowledge of the situation, reports that Fangio’s “gruff demeanor rubbing many the wrong way and creating internal tension within the team.” 

The transition to head coach has reportedly been rough for Fangio with “plenty of internal strife,” per La Canfora. 

Sources tell La Canfora that Fangio has had issues with offensive assistants with lines of communication being strained. There have also been some in-game issues caused by Fangio disputing play calls and coming across as overbearing on the headsets.

“There is a negative reaction to almost every offensive play call,” one source with knowledge of the situation tells La Canfora. 

La Canfora adds that other sources believe there has been a disconnect between the offense and defense as well, with Fangio’s “people skills” lacking, in their minds.

“Pretty much everyone gets treated like (crap), but if anything I think it’s brought the (coaches) on offense closer together,” a source tells La Canfora.

On a separate topic, La Canfora mentions that some league and ownership sources believe the Broncos could be positioned for sale pending the various lawsuits made by Pat Bowlen’s heirs.

Fangio, 61, began his NFL coaching career with the Saints back in 1986 as their linebackers coach. He has worked for several teams including the Panthers, Colts, Texans, Ravens and 49ers before he was hired by the Bears as their defensive coordinator back in 2015.

Fangio’s contract expired last year, but the Bears re-signed him to a new three-year contract. The Broncos hired him as their head coach this past January. 

The Broncos are 3-6 on the season.