All signs point to former Broncos coach John Fox, divorced from his old team on Monday, landing in Chicago. Would it be a good fit?
Sure looks like it. Here's five things to know about this impending hire.
1. Quick Turnaround: The 2001 Carolina Panthers were a horrible, horrible football team. They went 1-15, hired Fox, won 7 games the next year and promptly went to the Super Bowl the season after that (they lost to the Patriots thanks to John Kasay kicking the ball out of bounds and Tom Brady being superbly clutch).
The 2010 Denver Broncos went 4-12 under Josh McDaniels (who was fired midseason), hired Fox after the Panthers cut him loose and promptly went 8-8, winning the AFC West AND a playoff game. With Tim Tebow at quarterback. It's a modern miracle honestly.
The Broncos were in the Super Bowl by Fox's third year. Credit a certain No. 18-wearing quarterback for that all you want, but Fox has two quick trips to the Super Bowl when he took over teams. Two Super Bowl appearances might only be worth something in horseshoes and hand grenades, but it means you're getting a proven commodity at head coach.
2. Fixing Defense: The 2010 Broncos allowed 29.4 points per game (32nd in the NFL) and 390.8 yards per game (also last in the NFL). The next year Fox had them at 24th in points allowed and 20th in yards allowed, respectively, and his Broncos were a top-5 NFL defense by his second year.
In Carolina, the 2001 Panthers ranked 28th in points allowed and 31st in yards allowed. During Fox's first year they ranked 5th in points allowed and 2nd in yards allowed.
The Bears fell apart after Lovie Smith's departure, going from a top-five unit in Smith's last year (2012) to a bottom-five team in both of Marc Trestman's seasons in Chicago. This isn't entirely Trestman's fault; there was a cliff coming for that defense because of aging and talent depletion. Trestman just happened to be playing the role of Louise when it happened.
There's talent there now for Fox to fix up though. Kyle Fuller is a potential star cornerback. Jared Allen might not return because of money issues, but Willie Young (if healthy) and Lamarr Houston (if healthy part deux) can cause problems as pass rushers. Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton aren't rounding to be Kris Jenkins/Brentson Buckner but they're young and mold-able.
3. Sensible Offense: The one thing John Fox isn't known for is innovative offensive techniques. He had Peyton Manning the last three years, but let's be honest here: Peyton and Mike McCoy/Adam Gase were running things on that side of the ball.
Look at Fox's history of coaching and you'll find he's been on five teams who were top-five in points scored (three with Manning) and four who were top-five in yards produced (three with Manning).
Maybe this is a good thing. For Cutler anyway. Let's take a ton of throws away from Cutler and turn him into a high-priced handoff machine who feeds Matt Forte and, when the situation calls for it, takes some shots downfield to Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. Make him a rich man's Jake Delhomme with better weapons.
You could eliminate the turnovers and cater to his strengths. This might be just crazy enough to work.
4. General (Manager) Knowledge: Ryan Pace, the new Bears general manager, is just 37 years old, the youngest general manager in football. But he's been in the front-office game since 2001 and was the Saints director of pro personnel by 2007 (at 30!).
Despite his youthful age, he could be a nice combo with Fox, 22 years his elder.
There's an old-school connection or two, with the tentacles of NFL circles wrapping around the unlikely duo. Fox coached with Saints coach Sean Payton when both were with the Giants under Bill Parcells. Pace was in New Orleans for Payton's entire run there.
Ernie Accorsi, who consulted during the Bears GM search, was the GM of the Giants when Fox and Payton were there.
5. A Little Assistance: So who helps out Foxy in Chicago with everyone from Denver appearing to scatter in the wind to other head-coaching gigs (Jack Del Rio was already named the Raiders coach)? Look for Dennis Allen -- the guy Del Rio is replacing for the second job in a row! -- to take over the defensive coordinator role in Chicago, per CBS Sports Jason La Canfora. La Canfora also reports Fox could target Kyle Shanahan on the offensive side of things.
If John Fox gets Bears job I'd very much expect Dennis Allen and Kyle Shanahan to be his coordinators. Sounds like a strong package to me
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 15, 2015
That's a logical fit: the younger Shanahan's had mostly success at various stops, including the Texans, Redskins and Browns. His dad drafted Jay Cutler with the Broncos so there's some familiarity there as well.
6. Reunited And It Feels So Good: Most importantly the Bears gig means Fox gets to team up with Jimmy Clausen again. Without a first-round pick in 2010, Marty Hurney drafted Clausen with his first pick (in the second round) and Fox was forced to play out the pre-lockout string as a lame duck with Clausen as his quarterback.
One could argue Clausen as a rookie put up the worst, post-merger season in quarterbacking history (10 starts, 3 touchdown passes). At the very least it's in the discussion. Carolina won two games that year and never managed to score more than 24 points in a single game.
Clausen's now the backup behind Jay Cutler -- you'll recall Trestman started him at one point! -- and that's a fun story. Fast forward three years to Clausen and Fox embracing as they hoist the Lombardi while Cutler angry chain smokes cigs on the sideline.