Fangio, Kitchens, Gase land head jobs
Forget RPOs. John Elway is going with AARP.
Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio , 60, has accepted Elway’s offer to become the Denver Broncos’ next head coach, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press yesterday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Broncos didn’t announce the hiring, something the team won’t do until Fangio signs his contract. He’s expected to be introduced as the club’s 17th head coach today.
Fangio replaces Vance Joseph, who was fired on New Year’s Eve after posting the franchise’s first back-toback losing seasons since the early 1970s.
Fangio and Elway, who turns 59 this summer, will make up one of the oldest coach-GM duos in the NFL in 2019.
Browns stay in-house
The Browns didn’t have to go far to find their new coach. Freddie Kitchens was already in the building.
The 44-year-old Kitchens, who had a dazzling eightweek run as the team’s interim offensive coordinator, is finalizing a contract to become Cleveland’s ninth coach since the franchise’s 1999 rebirth, a person familiar with the decision told the AP.
Also, Gregg Williams, who went 5-3 as Cleveland’s interim coach and defensive coordinator this season, is no longer with the team, the person said. Williams was the first candidate to interview for the coaching vacancy.
Kitchens has no previous head coaching experience, but his work with Cleveland’s offense — most notably quarterback Baker Mayfield — in the season’s second half vaulted him ahead of the other six candidates interviewed by the Browns.
Jets go in division
The New York Jets hired former Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase as their head coach, a person familiar with the decision said.
Gase was 23-26 in three seasons with Miami, including a playoff game in 2016, before being fired last week.
It turns out he’ll remain in the AFC East, and face the Dolphins twice every regular season as a rival head coach.
The 40-year-old coach worked as an assistant with Detroit, San Francisco and Denver before being promoted to offensive coordinator by the Broncos in 2013 and drawing rave reviews from Peyton Manning.
Gase replaces Todd Bowles, who was fired after he went 24-40 with no playoff appearances in four seasons . . . .
The Minnesota Vikings appointed Kevin Stefanski as offensive coordinator, after his interim stint over the last three games of the season . . . .
Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn continues to reshape his staff, hiring special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica. The 44-year-old Kotwica directed the Washington Redskins’ special teams the last five years.
Titans raid BC
The Tennessee Titans have hired Frank Piraino away from Boston College as their new strength and conditioning coach.
Piraino has spent the past six years in the same job at BC where Titans coach Mike Vrabel’s son, Tyler, just finished his freshman season . . . .
The NFL and the NFL Players Association say outspoken Eric Reid was not singled out with excessive drug tests.