Chicago Bears: 5 Candidates To Replace John Fox

CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach John Fox of the Chicago Bears watches from the sidelines in the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Soldier Field on September 10, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

John Fox has to know his seat is getting hotter with each passing week. A loss to Tampa Bay in week 2 would only fan those flames.

The man has a 9-24 record with the Chicago Bears. Sure he’s overseeing a rebuild but there is just no escaping those numbers. If he can’t get this team going, there is every reason to believe he’ll get replaced. At that point the question will be who replaces him. There are plenty of names expected to be on the market. It’s a question of separating the ones who are the most likely fits for the franchise and why.

Here are five candidates worth watching and what makes them stand out.

Most deserving: Vic Fangio

The fact of the matter is the man has waited his turn for a long time. Fangio has been a defensive coordinator since 1995. A successful defensive coordinator at that. He took a down-and-out Bears unit and has made it respectable in such a short time. Players love him for his intelligence and attention to detail, along with his up-front honesty. At age 59 one could argue he’s long overdue to get his own team. His knows this team after three years. Why not give him a shot?

Most logical: Dowell Loggains

Wait if Fangio is the most deserving, why is Loggains the most logical? Two simple words: Mitch Trubisky. The Bears have a young franchise quarterback now. He was drafted under the pretense of fitting and playing within Loggains’ type of offensive system. They’re a good fit for each other. Switching systems after one year, while not unprecedented, would threaten to stunt Trubisky’s growth. Besides Loggains has shown himself to be a solid play caller who can adjust to the players he has.

Hottest name: Josh McDaniels

He was the big name this past offseason and he’s likely going to be the big name next year too. Josh McDaniels is one of the best offensive minds in the NFL today. He has two Super Bowl rings to prove it. He also got the best statistical year out of Tom Brady and even Kyle Orton. His previous head coaching experience may also serve to help him in his second opportunity. It’s hard not to imagine how good he and Trubisky could be together.

Biggest dream: Jim Harbaugh

The subplots are many with this one. Harbaugh is a former Bears quarterback. He’s known for being a QB specialist for obvious reasons but also tends to develop teams that can run the ball and play good defense. He has a history with Vic Fangio, increasing the odds of the defensive coordinator staying put. It checks every box for Bears fans. So why is it a dream? Almost everybody agrees there’s no chance he’s leaving Michigan, and it’s not hard to see why.

Wild card: Chris Petersen

This is a name that isn’t garnering nearly enough attention. Petersen has been a phenomenal college head coach. He turned Boise State into a national power including two Fiesta Bowl victory. Then he took over Washington in 2014 and got them to the College Football Playoff within two years. He’s 121-26 as a head coach with a respectable 6-4 record in bowl games. At age 52 he’s about ready for that jump to the NFL. Given his penchant for underdogs, why not Chicago?

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