The John Fox nightmare is ongoing for the Chicago Bears. He was hailed as a savior of the franchise, though in hindsight it’s difficult to see why. Shouldn’t people have realized this guy doesn’t know how to get the most from his teams based on the fact that Gary Kubiak won a Super Bowl with the same team Fox had failed to the year after he left?
That can’t be a coincidence. Maybe at one time Fox was a good coach. He’s not anymore. Sure he can still motivate players pretty well but his game and roster management has become slow-motion torture. For the second-straight year his team was blown out in Tampa Bay. The combined score of those two games was 65-17.
Mike Glennon, his pet project, the guy who would protect the football threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. Still Fox had a chance to keep people on his side by doing the right thing. Something he should’ve done at the start of the year. Put Mitch Trubisky in. He didn’t, and when asked after the game whether he’d do it next week, his answer was utterly deflating.
Reporter: "Will you think about Trubisky next week at quarterback?"#Bears coach John Fox: "Ah, no."
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) September 17, 2017
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So this begs the question. Why are the Bears keeping this guy around? He’s 9-25 now as head coach. If he won’t play the rookie that’s expected to turn this team around, what possible purpose is he serving to the franchise?
None. That’s why everything points to him getting canned. Maybe not during the season, but it’s coming by January. It’s a matter of figuring out who the man will be to replace him. If the Bears fans are looking for a short list, here it is.
LIKELY ENDERS OF THE JOHN FOX NIGHTMARE
Offensive guy: Josh McDaniels
Benefits:
- Top notch play caller
- Excellent at making in-game adjustments
- Gets the most out of any QB he’s coaching
He was the big name back in January, having won his second Super Bowl in three years as offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots. Josh McDaniels was and remains lauded as one of the best offensive minds in the game. Tom Brady was always a clutch quarterback, but he didn’t really become an elite one until McDaniels took over the offense in the mid-2000s.
That relationship has set all sorts of records. Of course people remain skeptical of McDaniels after his massive failure as a head coach with the Denver Broncos. He went 11-17 during his time there. Players afterwards said that despite his obvious intelligence McDaniels wasn’t ready for the job. His motivational and communication skills were poor.
A common issue with a young coach. McDaniels was 33 when the Broncos hired him. He’s 41 now and word is has matured quite a bit since being fired in 2010. Just imagine what he might be able to do with a precise passer the caliber of Mitch Trubisky.
Defensive guy: Teryl Austin
Benefits:
- Consistently elevates his players beyond expectations
- Has had success everywhere he’s coached
- Quality tactician with ability to adjust
Matthew Stafford gets all the credit for these 4th quarter comebacks he continues to lead almost every week. The truth is none of that happens without the Lions defense shutting down an opponent in the second half. Much of the credit for that should but never does going to defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.
He might be the most underrated assistant coach in the NFL. From 2014 to 2016 his unit ranked top 13 in points allowed twice and made the playoffs twice. Before his arrival three years ago, the Lions had not fielded a top three NFL defense since 1983. A span of 31 years. Seems the guy knows what he’s doing.
Not only that but history shows success seems to follow him. He was secondary coach of the Baltimore Ravens in 2012 when they won the Super Bowl. He was also defensive backs coach for the Seahawks and Cardinals in 2005 and 2008 respectively when they made their first-ever Super Bowl runs.
Former Bears guy: Dave Toub
Benefits:
- Knows Chicago and the expectations
- Creative strategist who has consistent success
- Understands how to manage an entire roster
It’s clearer by the day that Fox just doesn’t understand Chicago. His methods have only served to create animosity with the fans and media, making the situation worse. Perhaps it might be better for the organization to bring somebody in who does understand the city. Someone who actually had success while they were here, no less.
Dave Toub was and still is the best special teams coach in professional football. His units consistently rank in the top 10 every year. Nobody has been able to match his ability to get the most from his players or his knack for creative scheming. That knowledge of adjusting to a constantly fluid roster is something head coaches deal with every year.
He’s learned from the likes of Lovie Smith and Andy Reid, two highly respected men who brought a mix of offensive and defensive knowledge to the table. Toub has patiently waited his turn. It would be rather fitting to bring him back and fix this mess.
College guy: Chris Petersen
Benefits:
- Has won everywhere he’s been
- Understands how to build on both sides of the ball
- Extensively experienced but still fairly young
When top college coaches come up in conversation it’s always the same names: Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Jim Harbaugh, Jimbo Fisher and Dabo Sweeney. One mane who is not mentioned nearly enough is Chris Petersen. Outside of the SEC-ACC bubble, he has quietly cultivated a massive resume of success dating back over a decade.
He arrived on the head coaching field in grand fashion when he helped Boise State engineer arguably the greatest upset in CFB history, knocking off Oklahoma 43-42 in the Fiesta Bowl. It was and remain one of the best football games ever played.
Petersen was only getting started. After going 92-13 at Boise State, he was hired to take over the Washington Huskies program in 2014. In the the three seasons since he’s gone 27-14 and got them to the College Football Playoff last year. In that span he’s produced a lot of quality NFL talent for the draft including Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters.
Wild card: Rob Chudzinski
Benefits:
- Offensive specialist in both college and the NFL
- Gets the most from his QBs
- A massive chip on his shoulder
Now this is a name most people have forgotten by now. That’s not surprising. Chudzinski at one point was the hottest name on the NFL coaching circuit. He’d helped Miami to a national championship in the early 2000s. Then he made Derek Anderson a Pro Bowler with the Browns. Upon taking over in Carolina he helped Cam Newton shatter every rookie record. By 2013 he was the big name. Cleveland called him home to be their head coach and he answered.
After just one year he was fired. A move that was utterly perplexing to both the media and players alike who’d felt he was turning things around despite a difficult 4-12 record.
“Yes, this was a shocker, the Browns’ 4-12 record notwithstanding. The move incurred the ire of fans, numerous NFL coaches and executives (one NFC general manager called it “a shame for the NFL”) alike. Browns players, especially, were quick to vent their frustration, with more than a half-dozen of them expressing their dismay over Chudzinski’s firing and what it told them about the state of the long-struggling franchise.”
Since then Chudzinski took over the Colts offense in Indianapolis. Last year Andrew Luck had the most efficient season of his NFL career. Chudzinski deserves another chance.
