Gary Fencik x Kiran Amegadjie: Old School, New School
Gary Fencik x Kiran Amegadjie: Old School, New School
The NFL has evolved significantly over the years. What was once a league dominated by ground-and-pound football and defensive physicality has transformed into a high-speed, high-flying, pass-heavy sport. The changes in both the style of play and the athletes themselves reflect the shifts in culture, technology, and strategy. In this context, two players stand as representative figures of different eras in Chicago Bears history: Gary Fencik, a hard-hitting safety from the 1970s and 1980s, and Kiran Amegadjie, a modern-day safety who has emerged as one of the most versatile defensive players in the league. These two players—separated by decades—embody the evolution of the game, the shifting role of the safety position, and the contrast between “old school” and “new school” football.
Gary Fencik: The Old School Bear
Gary Fencik’s career is emblematic of the hard-hitting, physical style of football that characterized the NFL during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Fencik was a crucial part of the Chicago Bears’ legendary 1985 Super Bowl-winning defense, often regarded as one of the greatest defensive units in NFL history. Known for his punishing tackles, Fencik’s approach to the safety position was defined by his ability to lay the wood—using physicality to both disrupt plays and send a message to opposing offenses.
The Role of the Safety in Fencik’s Era
When Fencik entered the NFL in 1976, the safety position was somewhat more straightforward in terms of responsibilities. Safeties were expected to provide deep coverage, assist in stopping the run, and often engage in physical confrontations at the line of scrimmage. But the nuances of modern football hadn’t yet fully taken shape. The game was still dominated by power football, where offenses relied heavily on the run and the defense’s primary job was to stop it, no matter the cost. Fencik, playing for the Bears under the leadership of coach Mike Ditka and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, was asked to do just that.
Fencik’s instincts and ability to read the game helped him thrive in this environment. He was often the last line of defense, positioned to clean up any mistakes made earlier in the play. His ability to both read and react quickly allowed him to break up passes, and his physicality ensured he would be able to finish the play with a decisive hit. Fencik, paired with the likes of Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary and All-Pro defensive lineman Richard Dent, was an integral part of the Bears’ infamous “46 Defense,” a scheme that valued aggression and pressure.
Fencik’s Physical Playstyle
A defining characteristic of Fencik’s style was his aggressive tackling. Safety in Fencik’s time was as much about being an enforcer as it was about coverage. Defensive backs weren’t merely expected to play coverage but to engage in hard-hitting, sometimes brutal, collisions with wide receivers, running backs, and quarterbacks. Fencik was no stranger to the physicality of the game, consistently delivering punishing hits to opponents. His reputation for hard hits made him feared across the league. But it wasn’t just his ability to deliver hits that made Fencik great—it was his intelligence, his ability to break down plays, and his overall understanding of the game.
Despite being an integral part of a defense built on aggression, Fencik was also a cerebral player. He was known for his ability to read opposing quarterbacks’ eyes, anticipate throws, and make crucial interceptions. His six career interceptions in the postseason alone stand as testament to his football IQ and knack for being in the right place at the right time.
In total, Fencik earned 38 career interceptions, which places him among the top in Bears franchise history. In 1985, during the Bears’ Super Bowl season, he was named to the Pro Bowl and earned All-Pro honors, a testament to his exceptional level of play.
Kiran Amegadjie: The New School Safety
Fast forward to the present, and the NFL has undergone radical changes. The passing game dominates offenses, and defensive backs have had to adapt. This is where players like Kiran Amegadjie come in. Amegadjie, a rising star in the NFL, plays the safety position with a blend of speed, agility, and versatility that reflects the modern demands of the game.
The Evolution of the Safety Position
In today’s NFL, safeties are expected to be more than just hard-hitting enforcers. They have to be well-rounded athletes capable of excelling in both coverage and physical play. The league has evolved into a pass-heavy environment, where quarterbacks rely on quick releases and wide receivers are faster and more elusive than ever before. The safety position has shifted to meet these changes. Today’s safeties are asked to cover faster, more dynamic offensive weapons, react to faster plays, and—perhaps most crucially—be effective in both man-to-man and zone coverage.
Amegadjie, who entered the league in the early 2020s, embodies this new approach. His versatility as a safety allows him to cover ground quickly, whether he’s lined up as a deep safety to cover the back end of the defense or moving up to help in the box against the run. The modern NFL requires safeties to be able to do it all, and Amegadjie, with his quickness and football intelligence, excels in this new environment.
Amegadjie’s Athleticism and Versatility
While Fencik’s strength was his physicality, Amegadjie’s strength is his all-around athleticism. Standing at 6’1” and weighing 210 pounds, Amegadjie has the ideal size and speed for the modern safety position. His quickness allows him to stay with wide receivers in man coverage, while his ability to cover large areas of the field means he can contribute to both the run defense and the pass defense.
The most defining aspect of Amegadjie’s game is his versatility. In modern football, safeties are often called upon to cover wide receivers, tight ends, and even running backs in the passing game. Amegadjie is adept in all these roles, making him an invaluable asset in today’s pass-heavy NFL. His ability to line up in multiple spots on the field—whether it’s in deep coverage, in the slot, or as a blitzer—demonstrates his adaptability to the various schemes employed by NFL defensive coordinators.
The Modern Role of the Safety
Today’s NFL safety isn’t just an enforcer; they’re expected to be both a playmaker and a tactician. Amegadjie excels at reading offenses, anticipating routes, and making plays on the ball. His ability to come down and support the run or step back and prevent a deep pass gives him a unique edge. In a league that increasingly values speed and agility, Amegadjie’s ability to move sideline-to-sideline with efficiency makes him a key player in his team’s defensive gameplan.
One of the most exciting facets of Amegadjie’s game is his ability to disrupt the passing game. As offenses continue to evolve with shorter, quicker passes, safeties like Amegadjie are tasked with being ball hawks, creating turnovers, and impacting the game without needing to deliver a crushing hit every play. Amegadjie has already demonstrated his ability to make key interceptions and force fumbles, showcasing his knack for being around the ball and changing the game.
Old School vs. New School: The Safety Position
When comparing Gary Fencik to Kiran Amegadjie, it’s clear that the role of the safety has evolved dramatically. In Fencik’s time, safeties were expected to deliver punishing hits and serve as the enforcers of the defense. His physicality and hard-hitting nature defined the old-school era of football, where defense was as much about intimidation as it was about execution. Fencik’s playing style was tailored to an era where the game was dominated by power running, and the safety had to be a last line of defense against big runs or deep passes.
In contrast, Amegadjie represents the modern, athletic evolution of the safety position. Today’s safeties are required to be as comfortable covering wide receivers in one-on-one situations as they are reading a quarterback’s eyes for an interception. The evolution of the passing game has necessitated safeties who can do more than just hit—they need to be fast, smart, and adaptable to a variety of roles. Amegadjie exemplifies the new school of safeties: versatile athletes who are integral parts of a fast-paced, pass-oriented defense.
