John Fox Expected To Be Back With Bears Next Year, Chicago Could Move On From DC Vic Fangio

Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Tribune reports that Bears HC John Fox is expected to return for the 2017 season, despite the team largely underperforming this year.

Interestingly enough, Mulligan says that there are rumors going around in NFL circles that the Bears could move on from DC Vic Fangio next season.

“It has to be some kind of philosophical thing like you saw in Minnesota,” a league source tells Mulligan. “It’s so out of left field, it might be absolutely correct.’‘

Mulligan’s source is referring to former Vikings OC Norv Tuner, who quit during the season due to a philosophical difference with HC Mike Zimmer.

Mulligan points out that the Bears hired Fangio because his specialty is running 3-4 defenses, which the Bears have been working to build in recent years. Although, HC John Fox has a history of employing 4-3 schemes so there could be some changes coming to their defensive system next year.

Mulligan says that it’s still unlikely that they would shift back to a 4-3 defense after drafting and signing players to fit their 3-4 unit.

It’s still possible changes could come to the offensive side of the ball but Mulligan makes it sounds like OC Dowell Loggains could still return.

Fox, 61, began his head-coaching career with the Panthers back in 2002. He had a successful stint with the Broncos but was fired after they lost in the Super Bowl. Fox has been with the Bears for two years now and led them to a record of 9-19 (32.1 percent) and no playoff appearances.

We’ll have more regarding potential coachings changes involving the Bears as the news is available.