Vic Fangio spent many years as a defensive coordinator in numerous NFL cities before he got his first crack at head coaching with the Denver Broncos in 2019.
One of Fangio’s five stops as a defensive coordinator was with the Houston Texans from 2002-05. Prior to the club’s first game in franchise history against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 8, 2002, Fangio told club founder Bob McNair that the expansion franchise would get its first win on ESPN Sunday Night Football to kickoff the regular season.
“I remember telling Bob McNair the day of the game that we were going to beat them, which is kind of out of character for me to make a prediction, so I’m glad we held true,” Fangio told Houston media on a conference call Wednesday.
According to Fangio, McNair replied back to him that he hoped his prediction would come true. Fangio’s declaration proved correct as the Texans prevailed 19-10 over the Cowboys at NRG Stadium, which was Reliant Stadium from 2002-13.
Though Fangio enjoyed his time in Houston restarting the city’s interest in pro football after the Oilers left town after the 1996 season, Fangio, who was also the defensive coordinator for the expansion Carolina Panthers from 1995-98, doesn’t recommend coaching for first-year franchises.
“I enjoyed my time in Houston,” Fangio said. “Obviously, it was an expansion team at the time, and I don’t recommend expansion teams anymore to anybody. But I enjoyed my time in Houston and living there. My kids remember Houston fondly. It was a good time for me. We just didn’t win enough for a multitude of reasons.”
Fangio is looking for a win against his old team Sunday at noon CT. The Broncos defense will have their hands full trying to stop a Texans offense led by quarterback Deshaun Watson that is 10th in the NFL with 24.4 points per game.