There is no question the next eight games could be some of the most important in recent Chicago Bears history. Head coach John Fox, who has overseen the rebuild of the franchise from its sharp decline the past two years faces the prospect of losing his job. At 3-5 the Bears have already equaled their win total from 2016. Nonetheless it will take more than a 6-10 finish for him to save his job.
Not only that but his management of rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky will also be under the microscope. The debate over his handling of the situation is heated. Some believe his conservative approach with lots of running the football is the right way to go. Trubisky is inexperienced and lacking wide receiver talent around. At the same time others argue the unwillingness to let the rookie throw more often with a creative game plan is stunting his growth.
It leaves the outlook of the Bears’ future in a dense fog. Nobody is sure what to expect. ESPN insider Dan Graziano thinks he has a clear picture of how this team will look in three years.
Chicago Bears will have their quarterback and a new overseer
By the 2020 season the Bears will have a definitive answer, one way or another on their young quarterback. Will Trubisky still be there? Graziano seems to think so. The big difference is not him, but rather the man who’s coaching him.
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“Trubisky blooms in 2018, Jim Harbaugh’s first year as coach of the Bears, leading the team to the 2019 playoffs. And though Harbaugh still seems to lose that one game every year that costs him a title shot, iron-jawed Trubisky at least matches him scowl for scowl.”
The idea of a Jim Harbaugh union with Trubisky is not something new to Bears fans. In fact many are hoping and praying it happens. The logic behind the move makes so much sense. Harbaugh is a former quarterback with a reputation for coaching up the position. He molded Andrew Luck into a future #1 pick at Stanford. He saved the career of Alex Smith and then turn Colin Kaepernick into a near-Super Bowl champion.
According to his brother John he is apparently a Trubisky fan.
“He liked him coming out,” he said. “You know I did talk to him about the quarterbacks – I always do. And he thought very highly of him.”
Last but not least there is a strong possibility the Bears are able to keep Vic Fangio beyond 2017 if Harbaugh is hired. The two were together for five seasons from 2010 to 2014. Fangio’s contract expires next offseason. Most feel he’s gone unless the Bears can make a strong case for him to stay. Hiring Harbaugh would be a good way to do it.
Whether the Bears can lure him away from Michigan next year? That’s an entirely different story.
