Fagan retired with an eerily similar but slightly better head coaching record than good friend and coaching idol Leigh Matthews, winning 61% of games in charge of the Lions.
He was appointed to the club in 2017 following a disastrous period in which the Lions qualified for the finals just once in 12 years after their four consecutive Grand Finals under Matthews.
Fagan needed another two seasons without finals before a dramatic turnaround from a 5-17 record and 15th place in 2018 to a 16-6 record in 2019, during which they missed the minor Premiership by percentage and lost a preliminary final by three points to eventual runners-up GWS Giants.
He finished with an impressive 30-15 record in all AFL finals, the most recent of which saw him become just the seventh coach in V/AFL history to record the 'threepeat'.
Fagan had a unique position not only as the league's oldest head coach but as one of a very few in modern history with no elite playing experience - with the exception of some state team appearances for Tasmania - having spent his entire playing career in the apple isle before transitioning to coaching in the early 1990s.
Fagan spent eight years in Hawthorn's coaching department during their dynasty under Alastair Clarkson before replacing Justin Leppitsch at Brisbane.
He made no secret of the likelihood of an impending retirement both before and after the Grand Final, admitting the desire to "go out on top rather than get sacked" was very strong.
"I don't want to be that guy who hangs around until we fail," he said at his post-match press conference.
"There's a little bit inside me who'd rather walk away when the team is on top ... It's the dream way to finish, in many ways."
Given his pedigree and connection with the state, there'll no doubt be an open door for his services at new AFL club Tasmania Devils, should he wish to offer inaugural head coach Ken Hinkley some assistance in the near future.
Chris Fagan's full retirement statement:
“As you’ve come to know I’ve been thinking about this for some time and I’m comfortable that now is the right time for Ursula and I to return to Melbourne to be closer to our family.
“Telling the players and football staff today was one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life, together, we have been on a mission to make the Lions the most entertaining and competitive team in the competition, and we have done that. I was grateful to be given the role to coach the Club, and it has been an incredible ride.
“I especially want to thank Ursula and my daughters Jessica and Ellen for their incredible support over the journey, they have backed me through thick and thin.
“This job is all encompassing; I’ve given it my absolute all and I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved, but now is the right time to go.
“This Club has never been in greater shape, and the list profile would suggest this. The boys will continue to contend, and I’ll be their number one fan, but a fresh face at the helm will be a key pillar for the players to come back to next season, as they work hard to achieve more success.
“Ursula and I will really miss the City of Brisbane. We feel like from the time we arrived we’ve been embraced and made plenty of friends at the club and in our community.
“We will miss it a lot, and we really appreciate the support of everyone during our time here.
“I love how the fans have really embraced the team during my coaching tenure.
“To see the growth of footy across the State, our membership growth, big crowds filling the Gabba, the development of Brighton Homes Arena, which is far cry from our previous preseason situation, and with a new stadium in a few years the future looks bright.
“I’ll miss the club and it will feel strange not to be involved but for the last ten years I’ve thought about nothing other than how we can improve, get better and be successful.
“To see the Club develop on field from cellar dwellers to three-time Premiers has been amazing.
“The Lions are the sum of our parts and everyone across the club has played their role.”