John Fox, who routinely ducked and dodged football questions by offering up non-answers during his three-year stint in Chicago, is now a member of the media.
Say what, now?
That’s right. The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch reports that the long-time NFL coach is joining ESPN as a studio analyst. ESPN’s studio team has openings, primarily the role of coach-turned-analyst left vacant when Herm Edwards left to return to his coaching roots by taking over as Arizona State’s football coach.
Fox posted a 14-34 record as the Chicago Bears’ head coach, and was fired in January. The parting of ways was expected after spending most (if not all) of the year on the hot seat.
It was a disappointing ending for Fox in Chicago after he arrived with a reputation of turning around down-trodden franchises. That’s not quite how things turned out in Chicago, as the offense failed to show creativity or growth in three years, which probably more than any one thing, led to Fox and his staff’s eventual demise.
Fox has been complimentary of the Bears since his firing, saying the team was on the brink of winning and that the team was just a few moves away from turning it around.
In the end, this could be a win-win for all parties involved. The Bears have moved on with a new head coach (and staff) and a slew of young free agent signings to aid the offense, while Fox moves on to an environment where he doesn’t have to deal with media criticism.