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Vic Fangio continues to put together his staff. Mike Klis of 9News reported that Denver has finalized a deal with former Bears secondary coach, Ed Donatell to be the next defensive coordinator for Fangio’s new Broncos staff.
Broncos have reached agreement with Ed Donatell to be their next defensive coordinator, per source. Done Deal. #9sports
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) January 16, 2019
This move was one that was rumored and discussed ever since the Fangio hire, and is finally locked down. Ed Donatell has been with Vic Fangio for eight seasons, spanning San Fransisco and Chicago.
The Broncos have reached an agreement with Ed Donatell to be their defensive coordinator, per source. Donatell spent the last eight seasons with Vc Fangio, as the DBs coach in San Fran and Chicago.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 16, 2019
He was previously the Broncos’ secondary coach from 1995-99 and in 2010.
As Nicki’s tweet indicates, Donatell is already well acquainted with Denver’s winning culture as he won two Super Bowls as Denver’s secondary coach in 1997 and 1998 as part of a five year with Denver under Mike Shanahan.
Broncos HC Vic Fangio named "Coordinator of the Year" by @sportingnews.
— Patrick Smyth (@psmyth12) January 15, 2019
Fangio's defense with the Bears this past season led the NFL in more than 30 different categories, including scoring defense (17.7 ppg), takeaways (36) & 3-and-outs (49).https://t.co/2IaMHLdULA pic.twitter.com/eYhsEOc4mD
Donatell is coming off a season where he helped Vic Fangio orchestrate the number one defense in the NFL, and his secondary specifically led the charge with 27 interceptions (five for touchdowns), six more than the next closest team.
As Fangio mentioned at his presser, he will remain the defensive play-caller, with presumably input from his longtime secondary coach, now defensive coordinator.
The coaching hires keep rolling in, and this looks like another strong one for the Broncos.