Dunmore’s Fangio honored in NEPA, hopes DC job with Eagles is his last stop

PECKVILLE — Vic Fangio has found what he thinks is an appropriate final stop to his coaching career.

But Fangio is not done yet.

The Dunmore graduate and former Denver Broncos head coach is busy trying to prepare the Philadelphia Eagles for another year as a contender after last season’s 10-1 start went to waste.

Fangio was in Lackawanna County to be honored Wednesday night as the Scranton Lions Club Man of the Year at halftime of the 90th annual Dream Game, the Lions Club-sponsored, all-star game for recent graduates of Lackawanna Football Conference teams.

“It’s an honor,” said Fangio, who began his coaching career under the late Jack Henzes at Dunmore. “I’ve never forgotten where I’m from. I’ve always considered this my hometown.

“To come back and get this honor means a lot, and I think it’s a tribute to coach Henzes, too.”

Getting to northeastern Pennsylvania is easier for Fangio these days.

After NFL coaching stops in New Orleans, Carolina, Indianapolis, Houston, Baltimore, San Francisco, Chicago, Denver and Miami, Fangio is back in state this season. Other than serving as a consultant for the Eagles in the 2022 season, his only previous times coaching professionally in Pennsylvania were in his first two years, as a young defensive assistant helping the Philadelphia Stars to United States Football League titles in 1984 and 1985.

“I’ll obviously see a lot of people and people will come down to the games,” Fangio said. “It’s great to be back. This is where it started for me. Hopefully it will be my last stop.

“I want it to end here.”

Long regarded as one of the NFL’s top defensive minds, Fangio was the fourth-oldest man in NFL history to make his head coaching debut when he started with the Broncos at age 61.

Fangio went 19-30 in Denver, then, after his year as a consultant, served as Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator last season.

The Dolphins went 11-6 for their best record since 2008 and were 10th in the NFL in total defense, their highest ranking since 2010. They set a franchise record with 56 sacks, third-best in the league, and scored four defensive touchdowns.

“You have a system that you believe in, but it’s always adaptable and versatile so that you can adjust it for your players, but also the opponents you’re playing because every opponent prevents different styles and strategies that you have to stop,” Fangio said. “We’ll figure out what’s best for our guys and what’s best to compete in the NFC East.

“But we have a lot of work to do in training camp, and we’re going to have to get it done.”

Fangio spent three years at Dunmore after graduating from East Stroudsburg University, then one season coaching at Milford Academy in Connecticut and another as a graduate assistant at the University of North Carolina. He has 38 years of NFL coaching experience and 25 as a defensive coordinator.

Fangio went to three NFC championship games and one Super Bowl while serving as coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers (2011-14). The Associated Press named Fangio NFL Assistant Coach of the Year for his efforts making the Chicago Bears the league’s top defensive team in multiple statistical categories in 2018. In Fangio’s season as consultant, the Eagles went to the Super Bowl.

DREAM GAME NOTES

The Dream Game, presented by Northeast Rehab, drew an announced crowd of 7,164 to Valley View’s John Henzes/Veterans Memorial Stadium Wednesday.

“It’s such a tradition that the players I think still consider it an honor to play in it,” Fangio said. “I was lucky enough to get selected to play in it in 1976 and to coach in it in 1981 with coach Henzes.

“For this game still to be going in its 90th year – most all-star games have folded up – I think it’s a tribute to the Lions Club, but moreso to the community and the support they give high school athletics.”

The game produced 700 yards of total offense.

Misericordia University commit Jordan Chmielewski from Mid Valley started at both quarterback and safety and led the County to a 35-28 victory over a City team that featured more players who received all-state recognition and other honors.

Chmielewski carried nine times for 123 yards and two touchdowns and was 4-for-11 passing for 78 yards and another score. He intercepted a pass at the 9 with 1:51 left to preserve the victory.