Michigan Football Defensive Coordinator Candidates

December 28, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi

Vic Fangio

Vic Fangio is the candidate closest to Harbaugh. He was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator from 2011-14 and was released from his contract when Harbaugh and 49ers went their separate ways. He’s now with the Bears. Before his days in San Francisco he worked with Harbaugh at Stanford in 2010.

Michigan Wolverines

The 49ers’ defense in 2011 ranked 4th in the NFL in total defense and 1st in rushing yards per game. That pretty much stayed the same in 2012, except the pass defense also cracked the top five. Fangio had a top-five defense all four years and only missed out on the same mark with his rush defense in 2014.

Suffice it to say San Francisco was pretty good with Fangio.

Stanford under Fangio ranked 21st in total defense, 10th in scoring defense and 11th in sacks. His defense shut out three Pac-12 opponents, and Fangio was named college football’s Defensive Coordinator of the Year by FootballScoop.com.

This year his Bears are struggling against the run but rank 2nd in passing yards per game.

Fangio is a well seasoned coach. He has 36 years total in coaching experience, including 28 in the NFL and 15 as an NFL defensive coordinator.

I know I said this list is in no particular order, but it’d be hard to argue against Fangio being the best candidate for the job.

Next: Lance Anderson