Chicago Bears Reportedly Interested In John Fox As Next Head Coach
It didn’t take long for other teams to inquire about John Fox’s services following his parting with the Denver Broncos on Monday, and it appears the Chicago Bears are on the list of interested teams.
Fox has several connections with the Bears. Ernie Accorsi, who is helping Chicago with their coach search, was the general manager of the New York Giants when Fox served as the defensive coordinator of the team. New Chicago general manager Ryan Pace, who worked for the New Orleans Saints for several years, is good friends with Saints head coach Sean Payton, as is John Fox. Payton and Fox worked together on the Giants coaching staff from 1999 until 2002 (Fox as defensive coordinator, Payton as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach).
According to the Chicago Tribune, Fox would have interest in becoming the next coach of the Bears. While his split with the Broncos on Monday was deemed a mutual decision, Fox said in a statement that he would like to continue his career elsewhere.
“I am eager to continue my coaching career and look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.”
Fox is certainly the most experienced and successful head coach on the market for Bears general manager Ryan Pace to choose from. However, the new general manager of the Bears is only 37 years old (youngest general manager in the league), and he certainly wants to make a choice that will give the Bears stability in the long term and a foundation to build upon. Fox will turn 60 years old on February 8, so some wonder whether or not Pace would want to go with a younger hire.
Yes, Bears will interview John Fox. It’s a logical pairing but not automatic, per sources. Story coming on http://t.co/8BJFuCRy0P
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) January 13, 2015
John Fox’s record speaks for itself. With 13 years experience as a head coach of both the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos, he has won six division championships and two conference championships. Fox and his 2003 Carolina Panthers lost the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots, and his 2013 Denver Broncos lost the Super Bowl to the Seattle Seahawks. John Fox has a head coaching record of 119-89 overall and 8-7 in the playoffs.
Fox wouldn’t be the only coach from this year’s Broncos to interview for the Bears job, however. Offensive coordinator Ryan Gase interviewed with the Bears back on January 3. As of now, the Broncos have not made a move to promote Gase to their now vacant head coaching job, and the San Francisco 49ers are reportedly the front runner to land his services.
Other candidates interviewed by the Bears so far include Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Arizona defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin is set to interview with Chicago today, and John Fox will reportedly be interviewed soon.
[Photo via ESPN]
