NEWSLETTER
Did anyone see John Fox smile like this during his three years in Chicago?
Found myself watching some NFL Live on my flight and it looks like someone is enjoying life in front of the camera. pic.twitter.com/axwNI53hbs
— The Ten-Yard Line (@TheTenYardLine) May 16, 2018
Former Bears head coach John Fox made his television debut on Tuesday as an analyst on ESPN’s NFL Live. The network hired the long-time head coach after he was fired by the Bears on New Year’s Day, one day after the Bears’ 2017 season came to an end with a 5-11 record. A season-ending loss to the Vikings wrapped up a three-year stint in Chicago where Fox went 14-34 overall.
Among the topics Fox discussed during his ESPN debut was the Chicago Bears, because, well, of course. In general, Fox was complimentary of Matt Nagy and the new pieces the team added in the offseason. But when assessing the Bears’ situation from afar, Fox added that the team’s biggest challenge was improving the passing game – an area in which said the team was “deficient” in 2017.
I’d sure love to be a fly on the wall when Dowell Loggains hears that from his former boss.
To be fair, Fox has pretty much been nothing but positive when it comes to discussing his former team. Back in February, for example, he shared his belief that the Bears were on the path toward winning. He also said he was a believer in the team’s plan in an interview in which he also expressed no hard feelings. Fox also added the team was “six or seven” good moves away from competing, but you can take that differently depending on your point of view. While Fox’s press conferences didn’t provide much interest, how he evolves as a broadcaster will be interesting to follow.
Fox has eased himself into a media role by being – wait for it – more accessible to the media. One of his more recent dalliances was an interview with Jonathan Jones of SI.com’s The MMQB.
Among the highlights, Fox said he wasn’t happy about not getting another year to turn around the Bears, but he “gets it.” Fox also explained why he was the way he was with the media, disputing that he wasn’t a nice guy by saying: “When you’re the face of the franchise, you’re protecting a lot of people: players, coaches, management, ownership. Niceties aren’t part of that. Putting it blunt. That’s real. I don’t thing I wasn’t nice to people. … I always felt less was better, less was more. That’s how I was raised.”
Well, that’s certainly one way of putting it.
