Latest Evidence Shows Ryan Pace and John Fox Face Inevitable Breakup

DISCIPLINARY CONCERNS

One term that is often used to describe certain men like Fox is a “player’s coach.” This can be somewhat of a double-edged sword in many ways. Among the biggest strengths for Fox has been his ability to connect with people. He’s an excellent motivator when it comes to players. They like him. You’ll struggle to find anybody with a bad word about. However, at the same time a player coach can also have a significant weakness.

Their love of the players and desire to connect with them can make it difficult keep them focused and sharp from week to week. It’s hard to discipline them. ESPN did a cover story of John Elway after his Denver Broncos won the Super Bowl in 2015. A particular quote stuck out, having to do with why Fox was fired from that job the year before.

“A rising lack of discipline under Fox prompted Elway to sometimes yell at the team because Fox wouldn’t. Before a late-season practice in 2014, Fox turned to a few people on the sideline and asked, “Isn’t winning the division enough?” A few weeks later, after the Broncos came out flat in a divisional playoff loss to the Colts, Fox got his answer.”

That same concern about discipline has followed Fox to Chicago. One week his team looks prepared and ready to go. Then the next they are caught flat-footed and suffer a crippling loss. Just look at their performances against Jacksonville and Tampa Bay this past season. Two very winnable games against average or poor teams. They lose one at home in a big comeback. The other was a straight blowout.

Many of the reasons behind those losses were because of poor mistakes made by the Bears players themselves. Simple mistakes that a good coach is supposed to help prevent. They say Bill Belichick is one of the greatest ever because he just knows how to find great players. Not true. He’s great because he understands how to limit mistakes. Fox, for all his motivational skills hasn’t done that.