Broncos part ways with Head Coach Vic Fangio, GM George Paton to lead coaching search

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos will enter the 2022 season with a new head coach.

Denver has parted ways with Head Coach Vic Fangio after three seasons, the team announced Sunday morning. 

General Manager George Paton is now poised to lead the first head coaching search of his tenure with the Broncos.

"This morning, George and I informed Vic of the decision to part ways with him as head coach of the Denver Broncos," President and CEO Joe Ellis said in a statement. "For the last three seasons, Vic put his heart and soul into coaching the Broncos. I want to thank Coach Fangio for giving his maximum effort to our organization since the day he was hired.

"George will have full authority to select the next head coach of the Broncos. This is his decision and his program. I have complete confidence in George's ability to lead an exhaustive and successful head coaching search.

"We will give George every available resource and fully support him in hiring the very best head coach to lead the Broncos."

Fangio, whose three-year tenure began in 2019, posted a 19-30 (.388) record during his stint as the team's head coach.

Denver boosted its record to 7-6 during the 2021 season behind one of the league's best defenses, but the team lost its final four games of the year as the Broncos fell to 7-10 and missed the playoffs. The Broncos did not post a winning record over the last three years and have not appeared in the postseason since their win in Super Bowl 50.

"I have tremendous respect for Vic and all he's accomplished in the NFL," Paton said in a statement. "Over the past year, I appreciate his partnership, friendship and the tireless work-ethic he demonstrated as our head coach.

"Vic will continue to have great success in this league, and I thank him for everything he did for the Broncos as well as me personally.

"Looking ahead, there's a lot of work to be done for us to take the next step. Winning is not easy, and we're going to embrace the opportunity to improve in every single area of our operation.

"Our search to find the next head coach of the Broncos will be a comprehensive, collaborative process. We're approaching it with an open mind and look forward to spending time with some outstanding candidates.

"With the foundation in place, the progress that's been made and the resources we have to get better, I'm excited about the future of our team. We will find an outstanding leader and head coach for the Broncos and our fans."

The Broncos' new coach will inherit a team with a slew of talent on both sides of the football. Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Jerry Jeudy, Noah Fant and Javonte Williams are among the offensive skill position players who are under contract in 2022, and Denver returns many key pieces from a defense — including Justin Simmons, Pat Surtain II, Bradley Chubb, Ronald Darby, Dre'Mont Jones and Shelby Harris — that will likely finish in the top five in scoring in 2021.

Denver's new coach will also join a team that has plenty of draft capital and salary cap space to make further improvements ahead of the 2022 season. The Broncos currently hold the 10th-overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft — though that could change following Sunday's results — and five picks in the first three rounds.