Chicago Bears On Verge Of Second-Straight Home Run Hire
By Erik Lambert
December 28, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi
True, it was just a matter of letting John Fox fall into their laps but the Chicago Bears still had to handle the process properly. In the end that is exactly what they did. Just a month after watching the most tumultuous seasons in recent memory end under Marc Trestman, the Bears did just what they needed to get the train back on the tracks.
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Fox may not look like a home run to a lot of people, but he is one for the Bears. Why? Because he has all the traits that Trestman didn’t. He’s charismatic, a leader, unflinching in the discipline of his players, a motivator and above all experienced. He has coached 12 years in the NFL and won thirty more games than he’s lost.
The fact that he also embraces defense and running the ball, long trademarks of Chicago football, and that is why the hire is a home run. Yet the benefits of it may not be over. The Bears are stepping up to the plate again and in a short period of time may knock another out of the park.
That is what landing defensive coordinator Vic Fangio would do.
Some research on #Bears DC candidates Vic Fangio & Dennis Allen. Fangio's last 4 years very impressive. Story: http://t.co/83Tb8VJ8KR
— Jeremy Stoltz (@WJeremyStoltz) January 17, 2015
It’s been established already that Fangio and John Fox don’t come from the same defensive backgrounds. Fox was raised in the classic 4-3 style of Chuck Noll while Fangio has emerged as one of the leading men of the 3-4 system in the NFL. So at first glance the marriage wouldn’t make much sense.
However, one must not forget a key detail. Fox is the head coach, not the defensive coordinator. His job is to oversee the success of the team, not just the defense. If he is smart, he’ll understand that it’s not about which system is run, it’s about hiring the best people possible to help win football games.
Fangio is one of the most experienced and proven defensive coordinators in the league and hasn’t produced a unit lower than 5th in total defense since he returned from a stint in the college ranks in 2011. Adding to the allure of this idea is that disciples of Fox tend to get plucked for head coaching jobs elsewhere, something Fangio has strived for.
If the veteran coordinator were to land with the Chicago Bears, it could result in a seismic shift of prospects for the franchise.