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Chicago Bears: 5 Likely Scenarios After 2016 Season Ends

By Erik Lambert

Nov 20, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) drops back to pass against the New York Giants during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) drops back to pass against the New York Giants during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 18, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia on the sideline against the Chicago Bears in the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Bears 23-22. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 18, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia on the sideline against the Chicago Bears in the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Bears 23-22. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

Scenario #3:  Jay Cutler cut/traded and John Fox fired

This is essentially Ryan Pace taking full control of the situation. He has a locker room that appears divided between those who support Fox and those who support Cutler. Rather than just pick a side to run with, the young GM decides it’s better to just remove the problem entirely. Cutler is shipped out and Fox is sent packing. Thus he’s given a free hand to remake the team how he wants it, this time with a little more experience under his belt than in 2015.

The benefits of this approach would be pretty straightforward. Pace would be able to bring in a head coach whom he believes can successfully develop a quarterback. That coach would then be able to pinpoint a quarterback in the upcoming draft he feels can thrive in his system. Thus the Bears avoid the messy possibility of having to fire the head coach just one season into that quarterbacks’ career, just like what happened with Rex Grossman.

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