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Chicagoland Native Makes Catch Of The Year To Win Citrus Bowl For Notre Dame

By
Marc-Louis Paprzyca
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Former Providence Catholic standout wide receiver Miles Boykin made the catch of the college football season today. The catch sealed a Notre Dame comeback victory in the Citrus Bowl to defeat the LSU Tigers.

With about 1:30 left on the clock, Ian Book threw a pass that looked to be headed out of bounds. Instead Boykin reached out and made a one-handed grab that caught everyone by surprise. He then scampered to the end zone. The result, a 55 yard game winning touchdown.

In my opinion, this is the best catch of the college football season and even better than Odell Beckham’s famous catch. He caught it, kept his feet and ran for the touchdown. Go Irish!

Follow @Pappy_Hour on Twitter.

Prince Amukamara Sees a Little Tom Brady in Mitch Trubisky

By
Erik Lambert
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mitch trubisky

Normally defensive backs aren’t the experts one goes to for advice on quarterbacks. However, Prince Amukamara is a special case. He’s had a chance to work with and against some really good ones during his career. Eli Manning was his teammate for five seasons in New York. During that time he played against the likes of Tony Romo. In Jacksonville he went against Marcus Mariota and he challenged Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford with the Bears.

Suffice to say he knows what the good ones look like. So hearing his opinion on Mitch Trubisky after the conclusion of the rookie’s first year is worth it. In that sense Amukamara chose to make a comparison. One that is certain to generate a ton of buzz, so it must be made clear the choice was not an across-the-board comparison. Merely a sharing of similar traits.

Still the veteran corner made a bold choice regardless.

Prince Amukamara certainly had nerve dropping the Brady bomb

Now of course the joke was made, but nonetheless it’s a fascinating comparison. The thing that has always stuck out about Brady is his infectious enthusiasm for the game and maniacal pursuit of victory. Trubisky has come across the same way during interviews and press conferences. He doesn’t care about the stats or the accolades. If the Bears don’t win, he doesn’t have any reason to feel good.

In many ways that’s what makes Brady great. He won’t settle for anything less than victory each and every week. When the quarterbacks sets that standard, the rest of the team will eventually follow. Showing ones enthusiasm on the field is another way to do that. Mitch interacts with his teammates in many different ways. He’ll celebrate with them in success and give them firm speeches when things aren’t going well.

That’s what a leader has to do. Of course nobody is expecting him to be Brady. That wouldn’t be fair. To know that he shares some traits is enough. Trubisky is going to carve his own path in the NFL. If it’s even half as successful as Brady’s, then Bears fans will be overjoyed beyond measure. In the meantime one must take Amukamara’s words carefully. Trubisky loves football and loves to win. That is a good thing.

Bears 2017 Season Awards

By
Dhruv Koul
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(Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune) Bears defensive end Akiem Hicks (96) and outside linebacker Leonard Floyd (94) celebrate after Floyd stopped Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) on a third down during the first half.

The Chicago Bears ended their 2017 season, and the John Fox era, yesterday with a 5-11 record. And this morning, John Fox was fired after a three year run as Bears head coach.

This offseason will be a wild ride, and coverage will begin later this afternoon, starting with Ryan Pace’s season-ending press conference after ousting Fox.

But in the meantime, we bid adieu to the 2017 season by handing out some year-end awards. Not all recipients are “winners”, but say congrats nonetheless! 250 days until Bears football returns.

Most Valuable Player:  Akiem Hicks

The fact that Akiem Hicks was named just a fourth alternate for the Pro Bowl is embarrassing. The league and its players and fans should be embarrassed. Yes, it’s a popularity contest and has nothing to do with merit. And yes, winning teams generally win popularity contests. But come on. Hicks might be the best interior defensive lineman (who plays defensive end, btw) in the league outside of Aaron Donald.

Well, we do our best to make up for it by giving Hicks the MVP award. He was invaluable to the defense as a run-stopping and pass-rushing force, and to the team as a veteran leader. Ryan Pace gave him a contract extension early in the year, and he rewarded the Bears with an All-Pro level season. The Bears are lucky to have him.

Honorable mention:  Jordan Howard, Kyle Fuller

Least Valuable Player:  Marcus Cooper

Mike Glennon was Chicago’s worst investment of the year, but he did still have the Bears in position to beat the Falcons in the final seconds of Week 1, and he did beat the Steelers (though he didn’t have much to do with it). Then he was benched after Week 4 and never took another snap all season.

Marcus Cooper, on the other hand … yikes. Dumb mistakes, poor coverage, penalties, more dumb mistakes, you name it. I can’t think of a single positive play that Cooper contributed all year. And of course, there was this gem.

Dishonorable mention(s):  Mike Glennon, Markus Wheaton, Quintin Demps, Connor Barth

Offensive Player of the Year:  Jordan Howard

Not much went right for the Bears on offense this year. But Jordan Howard carried the Bears’ offense on the ground. He willed Chicago to wins over the Steelers and Ravens, and persistently pounded the rock like a good soldier despite Dowell Loggains and John Fox’s insistence on running him into eight and nine man fronts. He became the first Bears running back to rush for over 1,000 yards in his first two season. Congratulations to Jordan on that achievement while playing for a franchise whose running back history is fabled.

A true draft steal, Howard will prove even more dangerous in future years as Mitch Trubisky makes strides and forces opposing defenses to respect the passing game.

Honorable mention(s):  Kendall Wright, Tarik Cohen, Charles Leno

Defensive Player of the Year:  Akiem Hicks

Though the Bears had many defenders who had very good seasons, Hicks was named our MVP. It stands to reason that he’d be the defensive player of the year as well.

Honorable mention(s):  Kyle Fuller, Danny Trevathan, Adrian Amos

Rookie of the Year:  Eddie Jackson

Eddie Jackson took hold of the starting free safety job and never relented. He broke out against the Carolina Panthers, returning two 75+ yard defensive touchdowns, and made plays throughout the season that legitimized Pace’s belief in him when he traded up to nab him in the fourth round.

He played a strong “center field” and formed a surprisingly solid safety tandem with the previously benched Adrian Amos. Given the the Bears’ revolving door at both safety positions for years, and the fact that Chicago finally seems to have a good one in Jackson (and maybe in Amos, too), he gets the award for best rookie. But this draft class, in general, was terrific. Great job by Ryan Pace.

Honorable mention:  Tarik Cohen, Mitch Trubisky

Comeback Player of the Year:  Kyle Fuller

This was a tough one. Danny Trevathan came off a torn patellar tendon in essentially record time and went on to show how important he was to the defense after he missed time following the Saints loss.

But Fuller essentially came back from the dead to lead one of the better Bears cornerback seasons in recent memory. Remember, last year, after getting a knee scope done in training camp, Fuller shockingly sat out the entire year. Vic Fangio even called Fuller out for not playing, and it was assumed that Fuller had played his last snap for the team. But he earned his job back in training camp and preseason, and was a force all season.

Trevathan was expected to return to the team eventually; but Fuller’s status was completely uncertain. Talk about a comeback. And now, he’s going to get paid in the offseason — either by the Bears or by somebody else.

Honorable mention:  Danny Trevathan, Adrian Amos

Best Moment of the Year:  Mitch Trubisky earns his first victory against the Ravens

Mitch Trubisky had many good moments in an uneven yet promising rookie campaign. But his triumph in Baltimore was the best moment of the season. No rookie QB had ever won in Baltimore in the John Harbaugh era, and Trubisky destroyed that “record” in overtime.

The game shouldn’t have even gotten to overtime — that’s how badly the Bears had dominated Joe Flacco and the Ravens. But alas, in OT, Trubisky made the third down throw that validated Pace’s belief in him. Third and long, not yet in field goal range, under pressure immediately, moved in the pocket and kept the eyes downfield, fired off balance and hit Kendall Wright where only Wright could be hit.

A throw that maybe only Aaron Rodgers could also make. Four plays later, Trubisky had his first NFL win.

Honorable Mention(s):  John Fox finally benches Mike Glennon, Jordan Howard’s overtime touchdown run to beat the Steelers, Bears’ demolition of the Bengals on the road

“C’mon, Man!” Moment of the Year: John Fox challenges that 1st and Goal at the 1-yard line should be a touchdown, but instead it results in a touchback and turnover for the offense

We remember this, right? The Bears were 3-5 coming out of their bye week and playing the Brett Hundley led Packers at Soldier Field. Down 10-3, Benny Cunningham took a dump off towards the end zone and was ruled out of bounds near the 1-yard line.

John Fox thought it was a touchdown, and decided to challenge, without giving any regard to the risk of losing the ball to a fumble out through the end zone that was apparent on the replay (unclear if Cunningham was out of bounds beforehand). After review, it was ruled that Cunningham indeed fumbled, causing a touchback and giving the ball to Green Bay at their own 20.

The call never should have been overturned to anything because it was unclear as to whether Cunningham was out of bounds before fumbling. But it was CLEARLY never a touchdown and shouldn’t have been challenged. It was a bad mid-game decision by Fox that was all too common throughout his tenure. This one, though, took the cake.

The Bears never recovered from that play, dropping an ugly decision to the Packers and losing control of their season thereafter.

Dishonorable mention(s):  Marcus Cooper fumbles at the 1-yard line, Robbie Gould kicks game winner for San Francisco at Soldier Field, Mike Glennon’s knee-fumble against the Packers

Ryan Pace May Have New Name Atop His John Fox Replacement List

By
Erik Lambert
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ryan pace
FOXBORO, MA - SEPTEMBER 22: New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels looks on during the first half against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on September 22, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

 

John Fox has been fired. The moment Chicago Bears fans were waiting for, many since last January has finally arrived. A new head coach will be running the show in 2018. In a rare twist it will be GM Ryan Pace leading the search. This marks the first time since Jim Finks in the 1970s that a Bears general manager was allowed to hire a second coach. It’s clear indication that ownership trusts him to do the job right this time.

In fairness there’s reason for that. After three years the roster is in much better shape than it was back in 2015. It’s younger, faster and more athletic. Best of all they have a quarterback in Mitch Trubisky that is worth being excited about. It’s a matter of the next coach being somebody who can take his development to the next level.

Fangio of course would be most welcome to stay on as defensive coordinator. He’s done a great job in that regard. Unfortunately the odds of him becoming head coach are remote. Not unless he can guarantee putting together a strong offensive staff. It’s not impossible but is unlikely. However there does seem to be one name that has quietly topped Pace’s list.

Ryan Pace looking to reel in the big fish of Josh McDaniels

One thing that has stood out about Pace during his three-year run is he’s not afraid to be aggressive in getting what he wants. In each of the past two drafts he traded up from his original position to get a player he coveted. He went from #11 to #9 for Leonard Floyd and from #3 to #2 for Trubisky. So it’s not hard to imagine he’d aim high on the head coaching front either. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports believes he has one name in mind.

Josh McDaniels has consistently been one of the best offensive minds in football for years. He was the mastermind behind Tom Brady’s 50-TD season in 2007. In 12 years of running an offense as a coordinator or head coach, he’s only finished lower ranked than 15th once. He’s finished top 10 ranked seven times and #1 overall three times. The most amazing part is he has done all that and will only be 42-years old in 2018.

He is one of the best play callers in the league. Given what he’s done with Brady, it’s easy to understand why Pace would target him. Of course people will be quick to point out what a disaster McDaniels was in Denver as head coach. He went 11-17 in less than two seasons, alienated Jay Cutler (who was a Pro Bowler at the time) and got the team embroiled in an illegal video taping scandal. It wasn’t good.

McDaniels has had time to mature

Knowing that, it’s easy to understand the reservations. At the same time it was almost a decade ago. McDaniels was 34 at the time. He’s had a chance to mature quite a bit since then. Several sources close to him have said so. Coaches do tend to give their best results on their second head coaching opportunities. Ask his mentor Bill Belichick. In the end the idea of pairing him with Trubisky doesn’t stop being exciting.

His offense is a great fit for what the young QB does best. The two could end up doing a lot of damage together. The big question will be whether McDaniels can keep the defense going strong, something he couldn’t quite do in Denver.

Chicago Bears 2018 Draft Position Is Finally Official

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears 2018 draft position

The 2017 regular season has finally (mercifully) concluded. Now the next order of business is finding a new head coach. That and of course determining the Chicago Bears 2018 draft position. It was a bit of a complicated matter this year. A lot of moving parts went into the final results including other games. In the end there is a number.

This will mark the fourth-straight time the Bears own a top 10 pick in the NFL draft. That’s the first time its happened for them in four decades when they went five-straight from 1972 to 1976. Suffice to say this recent stretch has been difficult on the field. At the same time it’s affording GM Ryan Pace opportunities to acquire high-end talent.

This will mark the first time since 2001 where the Bears have held the #8 overall pick. In fact they’ve only held four times in all of draft history. This is dating back to 1939. That’s a fairly surprising fact. A better question is how have they done with it historically?

Chicago Bears 2018 draft position not always the most favorable

Truth be told the #8 pick hasn’t always been kind to the Bears in the past. Of the four total players selected with it, only one became a quality contributor. That was defensive tackle Wally Chambers. He became a three-time Pro Bowler for them in the 1970s before getting traded to Tampa Bay in exchange for the draft pick that became Dan Hampton.

Aside from him it’s a lot of average-to-bad. Wide receiver David Terrell was the most recent in 2001. He lasted just a few seasons, had some early promise but flamed out rather quickly. Offensive tackle Dennis Lick started five seasons for them in the ’70s, helping Walter Payton become a superstar. Then there was Jim Dooley way back in 1952. He had a few decent years as a receiver before becoming a terrible head coach for Chicago in the late 1960s.

If nothing else it’s fair to say the Bears are due for a hit at that position. Given their current roster needs like edge rusher, wide receiver and cornerback there’s a strong chance they should be able to come away with a quality talent. Thus far Pace has been a bit inconsistent here. Mitch Trubisky and Leonard Floyd look like quality talents, but Kevin White has proven a major bust. This pick could end up determining his legacy in Chicago. There’s not much room for error.

John Fox Didn’t Hold Back Feelings on the Media After Bears Loss

By
Erik Lambert
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john fox

John Fox has always been hailed as a professional, but every man has their breaking point. It’s likely that Monday will represent the third time in his football career he’ll have been fired from a head coaching position. This one with the Chicago Bears being by far the worst across 15 long years. At 62-years old it’s likely he won’t ever get another shot. So one might understand if he wasn’t in the most festive of moods following the Bears’ listless 23-10 performance in Minnesota.

One other known fact about Fox? He doesn’t care for the media. While never one to yell or curse at them, he’s always done everything in his power to mislead and be as vague as possible. Even when there was no reason for it. Fox is of the old school. He views the media as a nuisance and little more than a cancer trying to eat away at his football team.

It’s not an uncommon stance to have. Several coaches do. Normally he’s able to keep such emotions controlled. However, with his coaching career possibly coming to an end Fox couldn’t quite keep things contained as the post-game press conference revealed.

John Fox snapped at media and then left after two questions

Going in he had to know the questions would have nothing to do with the game. Everything was focused on what his future with the team might be. Fox began with a statement about the players and the effort they gave. Then when the first question came up, it was apparent he had no interest in being chummy.

“Look, I’m here, the league makes me be here to talk about this game, and that’s what we’ll keep it to. And anything after that, we’ll keep you posted. Any other questions?”

The questioning was pressed a little further but Fox did not budge. Instead he chose to leave the conference altogether. It was a rather fitting final snap shot of his time in Chicago: brief and forgettable. Fox will leave with the second-worst winning percentage in franchise history at 14-34 (.292). Whether he lands another job elsewhere is unknown, and at this point Bears fans don’t really care.

All they’ll remember him for is unfulfilled promises. All the media will remember him for is being boring, not forthright and difficult. Seems he was intent on going out the same way he came in. Here’s hoping both sides find better luck apart.

12 Thoughts On John Fox’s Ugly Yet Fitting Bears Finale

By
Dhruv Koul
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steve mcmichael
(Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) Bears coach John Fox in the first quarter against the Vikings.

Today was John Fox’s final game coaching the Chicago Bears. After months of expecting the obvious, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported yesterday that it’s indeed expected Chicago will part ways with their embattled head coach.

This Week 17 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, from the Bears’ perspective, was all about Mitch Trubisky and watching him go up against the team he started his NFL career against. This was a road test of epic proportions to end the year. Forget the score, it was all about letting him play.

Here are my thoughts from 2017 finale, and the final game of the John Fox Era:

1) The Bears started the game flat, with unimaginative play calling on offense, and getting steamrolled on defense. It’s about what I expected from a team that knows change is coming on New Year’s Day.

2) Chicago was missing 3/5 of its starting offensive line today and was dominated by a Vikings defensive front that is one of the best in the league. The play calling, though, didn’t seem to try to adjust for that, especially early on. The fullback dive call to Burton on a long yard to gain was just … my goodness.

3) Marcus Cooper is not welcome in Chicago ever again. Unless it’s on an opposing team that the Bears thoroughly destroy with their next coaching staff. I can’t remember a positive play he’s made this year. But I can remember plenty of dumb ones.

4) A pathetic, undisciplined performance from the Bears today in all three phases. Penalties, penalties, and more penalties. One of John Fox’s worst features was the team’s penchant for doing dumb things during the game. Today was a complete microcosm of his tenure.

5) On the bright side, the Bears successfully ran the Devin Hester-Johnny Knox punt return fakeout for a touchdown with Tarik Cohen and Bryce Callahan. Remember that the Hester-Knox one was called back by a phantom penalty. This one was successfully executed. Ironic, huh? What’s more, is that that play was designed by special teams guru Dave Toub, who is rumored to be on the Bears’ head coaching short list, and may very well be the current favorite per Benjamin Allbright. Nice homage.

6) Rookie mistake from Mitch Trubisky on the intentional grounding call for a safety. He didn’t have much real estate to work with once he realized he had nowhere to throw the ball and once he was in the end zone, he tried to flip it to an offensive lineman. I’m not sure if it was him taking a calculated risk or if he just panicked, but learning some awareness from that play will help him going forward. Trubisky learns from his mistakes better than most rookie quarterbacks I’ve seen.

7) Midway through the third quarter, the Bears had 56 total yards. Fifty-six total yards. That’s not a typo. And the optics of it were just as bad as the numbers.

8) Vic Fangio really isn’t that irreplaceable. He’s done a good job with the talent he’s had for three years, but he isn’t untouchable by any means. Losing him hurts the most in relation to the rest of this staff, but it’s not devastating.

9) Defending Dowell Loggains has become harder and harder to do. What he showed last year and what he has shown this year are complete opposites. I still think he is a better offensive mind than given credit for, but he’s worse than I originally thought. The sequences inside the 10 yard line in the fourth quarter were just brutal.

10) The offense had an awful day, but Trubisky had a rather respectable game given the circumstances. Better than I expected, honestly. He has a ton to clean up going forward, no doubt. But he has shown more than enough to be optimistic.

11) This team’s desperate need for EDGE and WR help jumped off the screen today. Ryan Pace has one damn busy offseason ahead: A head coaching search, cuts and resignings, a busy free agency period, and a very interesting draft. This will be fun.

12) Finally, this is for you, Foxy: You made the locker room respectable again, and gave us a wonderful Thanksgiving surprise in 2015. But not much else. Congratulations on your career that preceded this Chicago stint, because I have a ton of respect for what you were able to do with Carolina and Denver. But it’s time to move on. Goodbye and good luck.

Coaches The Chicago Bears Should Poach From Soon-To-Be Fired Staffs

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears

News finally came out recently that the Chicago Bears are prepared to move on from John Fox. Ian Rapoport confirmed as much. This could mean the entire coaching will be gone by Monday morning. That may not sit well with some fans who’d love to see certain faces stick around, most notably defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Regardless GM Ryan Pace will have a big task ahead of him.

First and foremost will be finding a new head coach. Expectations are he’ll be targeting an offensive specialist. Somebody who can come in and hopefully groom quarterback Mitch Trubisky into the top NFL passer he should be. Who will that end up being? Only Pace himself knows that for sure. One thing is clear though, that coach will have a huge responsibility upon arrival.

He must quickly move to build a strong coaching staff around him. The good news is the market will be flooded with fellow coaches who were dismissed by other teams. Contrary to popular belief this doesn’t mean they’re all failures. Like Fangio several of them are actually quite good at their jobs, but were caught up in the politics of this business.

Who are some the Bears might be able to poach?

Likely fired coaches the Chicago Bears might want to target

As things stand it appears that there will be at least seven staffs that are dismissed come Black Monday. That means dozens of coaches will suddenly find themselves unemployed. The scramble to scoop certain names up will be swift, so the Bears will have to act quickly in order to secure the best ones. Here are some names they really should consider.

Chuck Pagano (Indianapolis Colts)

The Colts head coach is villainized these days for his failures, which is rather unfortunate. Given the roster he had most of that time, he’s actually done quite well. Either way his reputation won’t be tarnished so much that he can’t find work. Pagano will likely land on his feet as a defensive coordinator. His lone year of work at that job in 2011 resulted in the Baltimore Ravens finishing 3rd overall in the NFL. He’s known for his ability to motivate and pay attention to details. His 3-4 background would also be a benefit to the Bears’ continuity.

Russ Grimm (Tennessee Titans)

The Hall of Fame guard has continued his stellar NFL career as one of the top offensive line coaches in the game today. Grimm has had success producing Pro Bowl talents wherever he’s gone from Washington to Pittsburgh, Arizona and now Tennessee. If the Titans were to let him go he’d be an instant benefit to the Bears as they look to fortify their front for Trubisky and that rushing attack.

James Urban (Cincinnati Bengals)

It’s never a bad thing when players speak out on whom they think should get a promotion as coach. Several in Cincinnati did so for James Urban when the Bengals offensive coordinator job opened up. It ultimately went to Bill Lazor, but that was a sign that Urban had the respect of the roster. With good reason too. Since 2011 the Bengals wide receivers have had loads of success thanks to his efforts. A.J. Green is a star while Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu went on to land big contracts after leaving the team as free agents.

Todd Downing (Oakland Raiders)

His run as offensive coordinator is not going as the Raiders had hoped. Granted it’s the first year Downing has ever held the job so there might be an adjustment period but still. If he’s out after this season the young coach is by no means unworthy of swift signing. While a coordinator job is unlikely at this point, he’d be an excellent quarterbacks coach. He has held this position when a number of top QBs have had their best years including Derek Carr in Oakland and Matthew Stafford in Detroit.

Patrick Graham (New York Giants)

Teams tend to be wary of New England Patriots assistants these days, feeling they’re elevated by the Belichick Effect. Patrick Graham has since found success outside that bubble though. His work with the New York Giants defensive line of late has proven he knows how to do the job well. He understands how to coach up proper run defense and pass rush requirement. He’s also still quite young so his best years may be ahead of him.

James Bettcher (Arizona Cardinals)

It was quite the shoes to fill when Todd Bowles left for New York in 2015. Rather than seek outside help though, Bruce Arians put the Arizona Cardinals defense in the hands of young assistant James Bettcher. That proved to be a wise choice. The unit hasn’t ranked lower than sixth in total defense during the three seasons he’s been in charge. Before that he was a successful outside linebackers coach as well. Another highly overlooked young assistant.

Bears Fans Finally Get Their Confirmation on John Fox’s Future

By
Erik Lambert
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john fox

The Chicago Bears have been totally silent on the future of head coach John Fox. To this point it’s been hinted strongly that the 62-year old would soon be fired at the end of the season. Yet no confirmation has existed to this point. Thus there was always the shred of doubt that maybe, just maybe the team might change their minds and decide to keep him another year.

At last it appears some sort of reliable information has surfaced. Expectations are that he will be fired following the game against the Minnesota Vikings in the season finale. Once that happens GM Ryan Pace will begin the active search for his replacement. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network provided the latest details.

“Coach John Fox is expected to be fired following Chicago’s game on Sunday, sources say. General manager Ryan Pace will lead the search for a new coach, and team president Ted Phillips has already been doing homework on prospective candidates. While Fangio likely gets a look, don’t be surprised if the Bears focus on hiring an offensive coach who can help rookie QB Mitch Trubisky, as the Eagles did with Doug Pederson and Carson Wentz.”

John Fox successor will likely be a hot offensive name

There already have been plenty of offensive names mentioned in connection to the Bears job. Jon Gruden and Jim Harbaugh are the top two veteran names. Meanwhile an assortment of young up-and-comer have begun to fill up the list from Matt Nagy in Kansas City to John DeFilippo in Philadelphia and Matt Lafleur in Los Angeles.

It will come down to two key factors. Who fits with Trubisky best on the field and fits best with Pace at Halas Hall. It will be imperative for those two relationships to get off on the right foot. Otherwise the Bears will just be back here again three years from now.

Rumor: Bears Coaching Search Digging Deep Into the Past

By
Erik Lambert
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bears coaching search

The Chicago Bears coaching search is 48 hours away from commencing. John Fox will oversee his final game for the team in Minnesota on Sunday. Regardless of the outcome, expectations are he’ll be fired the following Monday. At that point GM Ryan Pace will begin the hunt for his replacement. As to who that will be? There is only speculation.

Some sources think they’ll target the top young offensive mind available, searching for perhaps the next Sean McVay or Kyle Shanahan. Others wonder if they’ll try to find a coach who’s connected to the franchise. Dave Toub appears to be the hottest name of late in that regard. Then again this team has proven over the past few years to be quite unpredictable.

Could another such moment be coming? Based on the latest rumors, it’s possible.

Bears coaching search may be coveting Jon Gruden

There are plenty of well-known names on the market who remain wild cards. Jim Harbaugh is arguably the most popular among Bears fans. It seems though that another might actually be in play for the organization. A source offered an interesting note on what’s been happening the past 24 hours.

“Bears meeting with Jon Gruden. They’ve been meeting since noon. Three plus hours.”

This information by itself is a little inconclusive. However, there is a fascinating element that threw gasoline on the fire. Mere minutes after receiving this information, news leaked out that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were keeping head coach Dirk Koetter for the 2018 season. This after rampant belief the team was on the cusp of bringing Gruden back. So something changed.

Apparently it had nothing to do with the team changing their minds. It was actually the man himself who chose to back off the job.

“Gruden turned down Bucs. They had no interest in other candidates than him.”

That would explain matters. Once Gruden declined their offer it would make sense for them to declare the job no longer available and would be keeping Koetter. Could this be an indication the Bears might have an inside track to landing the former Super Bowl champion? It’s too early to tell but the source did leave one last nugget to chew on.

“Gruden has long loved Trubisky.”

Gruden brings lots of credibility and unknowns to the job

There is certainly a lot to take in with this. As stated before it’s very early in the process. Meeting with Gruden and hiring him are two different things. Nonetheless what exactly would the Bears be getting were it to happen? Well first and foremost they’d collect a man who’s been all the way to the top. Gruden won the Super Bowl with Tampa Bay back in 2002, so he’s seen the blueprint before.

He has a deep offensive background, having learned under the likes of Mike Holmgren. In his time as a coordinator and head coach he produced a top 10 offense six times. His biggest area of expertise lay at quarterback. Rich Gannon developed into an All-Pro under his watch in Oakland and Brad Johnson had his career-best season as well under him in Tampa. Jeff Garcia also went to the Pro Bowl with his help.

One thing Gruden has yet to do though is develop a young quarterback himself. He never really had the opportunity in Oakland or Tampa Bay. Mitch Trubisky would certainly represent the sort of challenge he’s always coveted. No doubt his chances to come back won’t last much longer. He’ll be 55-years old next year.

The setup the Bears offer with Trubisky and that solid defense might be the best chance he’ll ever get.

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