Even though the Bears are 9-23 since John Fox replaced Marc Trestman as head coach, the team is expected to stay the course and retain Fox for another season.`
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports Fox and “much of his staff” is expected to return for a third season. This would be significant, considering the Chicago Tribune reported that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was rumored to be on his way out in early December.
On that note, Rapoport also notes that some position coach changes could happen and the quarterback situation is far from settled. Further, Rapoport credits the Bears for having a positive culture despite mounting losses and an injury riddled season that featured 19 players on injured reserve.
The future could be bright if the team hits on its picks in the upcoming draft, where they will draft third overall.
Fox replaced Trestman in 2015 and the team went 6-10 in his first season. You can’t be blamed if you felt optimistic after Fox’s first season – especially after Trestman’s two seasons. Couple that with Fox’s second year trends in Carolina and Denver and it’s easy to believe brighter things were ahead for the Bears.
Year 2 is usually one where Fox’s teams take a step out of the shadows and into contention, but the Bears took significant steps back in a 3-13 season mired by poor quarterback play, injuries, and turnover woes. In Fox’s second year with the Carolina Panthers, the team went 11-5 and won the NFC before falling to the New England Patriots. Fast forward nine years and Fox guided the Denver Broncos to a 13-3 record in his second year with the team.
While his second-year magic didn’t show itself in Chicago, Fox is expected to be back on the sidelines for the Bears for a third season. The 2016 season marked the first year in which Fox’s team has suffered consecutive losing seasons.