Vic Fangio gets to take a bow today. Fangio was a key component in turning the team into the second-best defense in the league, per PFN’s Defense+ metric. That dominance was on full display in the Super Bowl against the back-to-back defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.
Shutting them out in the first half, Fangio’s D forced two interceptions on Patrick Mahomes in an all-around brilliant performance. After the game, Defensive Player of the Year candidate Zack Baun revealed the shift in mentality for Fangio from his last Super Bowl appearance.
Vic Fangio Learned From 49ers’ Mistake, Says Zack Baun
The last time a Fangio-led team trekked into the big game was Super Bowl 47 and the “Battle of the Brothers” — Jim Harbaugh’s San Francisco 49ers took on John Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens. A close masterpiece ended with a 34-31 Ravens victory.
But, according to Fangio, it was a mentality issue that led to the 49ers’ downfall. Baun spoke to PFSN after winning his first Super Bowl and revealed the message from his defensive coordinator.
“He actually showed us, the prior Super Bowl that he was in when he was coaching for the 49ers. And it was in New Orleans, and it just showed us where they messed up and what they did wrong.
“Their mindset was wrong going into it. So for him to have that retaliation back in the dome is pretty sweet.” For Baun, the Superdome was a familiar sight, spending the first four seasons of his career with the New Orleans Saints.
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In that time, Baun totaled 88 total tackles and two sacks in his career — numbers he exceeded in his lone season with Philadelphia. Baun continued to make plays in the playoffs, culminating in one of the greatest interceptions in the big game’s history, a diving two-handed catch to the left.
En route to a Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro selection, he tallied 151 tackles and 3.5 sacks and even earned some Defensive Player of the Year buzz, which eventually went to Pat Surtain II from the Denver Broncos.
All year, he was a critical piece for the Eagles, who sported one of the best defenses in the league. In addition to a dynamic offense led by Saquon Barkley, who set the single-season record for most rushing yards, and Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, the Eagles are prepared to begin their own dynasty.