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Former 49ers Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio To Join Chicago Bears

CHICAGO (CBS SF) -- One of the candidates passed over for the San Francisco 49ers head coaching job is taking his talents to the Windy City.

Vic Fangio will join new Chicago Bears head coach John Fox as his defensive coordinator, according to CBS Sports reporter Jason La Canfora.

Hired as 49ers defensive coordinator by former head coach Jim Harbaugh in 2011, Fangio consistently produced one of the top-rated defenses in the NFL.

Fangio had reportedly hoped to land the 49ers head coaching job after Harbaugh's departure last month, and was expected to depart the team after Jim Tomsula was hired instead.

The 49ers released Fangio from his contract last week.

Fangio takes over a Bears defense that ranked near the bottom of the league over the past two seasons. Details of his contract were not immediately available.

Fangio also interviewed to be the defensive coordinator for Washington before choosing Chicago.

It's expected that former 49ers secondary coach Ed Donatell will join Fangio in coming to Chicago, according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

 

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