The Chicago Bears’ Week 14 win against the Cincinnati Bengals was everything anyone would want in a win from a rebuilding team.
However, it doesn’t appear as if John Fox will be around for too many more of these kinds of victories.
Ian Rapoport reported that members of Fox’s coaching staff believe things “won’t end well” this season and a fresh start on the staff is on the horizon. That news comes despite the addition of rookie Mitch Trubisky, who is believed to be the franchise quarterback of the future. NFL Network teammate Mike Garafalo seems to paint a more dire picture from Fox’s perspective. Garafolo adds that it seems as if Fox has “accepted his fate” with the team, according to people who have talked to the Bears’ head coach. It’s as if Fox knows he is on his way out upon the conclusion of the 2017 season
The Bears are 13-32 since hiring Fox to replace Marc Trestman. And while Chicago isn’t the laughing stock it was during Trestman’s two-year stint, things haven’t quite worked out for a variety of reasons. We’ll get into that if and when it officially comes down.
If it comes to fruition, the Bears could be one of nearly a half dozen teams in search of a new head coach this offseason. The New York Giants already parted ways with Ben McAdoo (and could be interested in the same candidates the Bears might have eyes on), while the Cleveland Browns announced they will stay the course with Hue Jackson.
The news trickled out on the same day the Bears played their best and most well-rounded game of the year. Go figure.
Chicago’s offense put up nearly 500 yards of total offense behind a rookie quarterback, Pro Bowl running back, a pair of rookie playmakers, and a savvy veteran wide receiver who posted his first 100-yard receiving game since Week 6 of the 2016 season. Defensively, the Bears stifled Andy Dalton (59.7 passer rating, 48.3 completion percentage) and limited all-world receiver A.J. Green (five catches, 64 yards) in a must-win game for a team that was on the fringe of the AFC’s playoff hunt. Even the new place kicker connected on both of his field goal attempts.
In Fox, GM Ryan Pace found a coach with enough gravitas to take them out of the depths of NFL hell the franchise was driven to during Trestman’s time in Chicago. But with Trubisky in tow, it looks like Pace will be tasked with finding a coach to lead the team (and its talented quarterback) to the next step.