The Chicago Bears, one of the NFL’s most storied franchises, have just completed one of their most disappointing seasons in a very long time.
Before the season started a lot of people were predicting they could make the playoffs. However they crashed and burned to a 5-11 record – last place in the NFC North.
This led to a clear-out as head coach Marc Trestman, general manager Phil Emery, offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer and eventually defensive coordinator Mel Tucker were shown the door.
So how could things possibly be looking up for the Bears? Well after such a disappointing season, which included some locker room disdain, changes were obviously needed and the Bears ownership wasted no time in making them.
In comes former New Orleans Saints director of player personnel Ryan Pace as new general manager, a hire that was mostly well received despite Pace’s young age (He’s 37 and the youngest GM in the NFL).
He wasted no time bringing in a new head coach. John Fox and the Denver Broncos ‘mutually parted ways’ and shortly after Pace seemed to fall into the Bears’ lap.
After hiring Marc Trestman two years ago, who had no previous head coaching experience in the NFL, the Bears needed an experienced guy who has had success. Fox has led the last two teams he has coached – the Carolina Panthers and Broncos – to the Super Bowl, so the pedigree and winning mentality is certainly there. But perhaps just as important is that John Fox is an old-school coach who likes to run the football and play tough defence, something the Bears have been very good at for most of their existence.
The Bears then hired former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to vastly improve a defence that was truly awful 2014. And improve it he will if his tenure in San Francisco is anything to go by, as the 49ers were a top-five defence in every year he was there (2011-2014). The Bears’ defence could also change scheme from a 4-3 to a 3-4, which is what Fangio likes.
Finally the Bears hired Adam Gase, former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator and obviously someone familiar with Fox as they had worked together in Denver as recently as three weeks ago.
Gase obviously had great success in Denver, with future hall of famer Peyton Manning running the show at quarterback. Now he has to work closely with and try to get the absolute best out of Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.
Many questions are still to be answered with Cutler. Is he in the Bears’ long-term plans? Can he finally get it together under Adam Gase and show everyone he can at least be in the conversation as an elite quarterback? But more importantly, can he lead the Bears to the Super Bowl with Fox, Fangio and Gase in place?
Whatever you think about the Chicago Bears, there’s no denying these are solid coaching hires who will make them a better team next season. However patience is needed and the upcoming NFL draft will be an interesting one.
If they can have a good draft this year and next, stabilise the locker room and Cutler can get it together – if he is in the Bears’ future plans – then the Bears can be relevant again.
If you’re a Chicago Bears fan you should be excited. It finally seems ownership are making the right moves to get the Bears back.
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