Report: Bears ‘Expected' to Fire John Fox After Sunday's Game
By James Neveau ••
Chicago Bears head coach John Fox will be on the sidelines for the team this Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, but it’s looking less likely that he’ll be there next season.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, it is “expected (Fox will) be fired following Chicago’s game on Sunday.” Rapoport also says that G.M. Ryan Pace will stick around to hire the team’s next head coach, and that the team will likely lean toward hiring an offensive-minded coach to replace him.
That would leave defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who will likely get a look from other teams searching for a coordinator, out in the cold, but Rapoport says that he could get a look due to the success he’s had in Chicago.
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: A snow plow is used prior to the game between the Chicago Bears and the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Fans wait for the game between the Chicago Bears and the Cleveland Browns to start at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: The Chicago Bears run out to the field prior to the start of the game against the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Jordan Howard #24 and Cody Whitehair #65 of the Chicago Bears celebrate after Howard scored against the Cleveland Browns in the first quarter at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Zach Miller #86 of the Chicago Bears makes an appearance during the game against the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: A Chicago Bears fan watches the game against the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: JC Tretter #64 of the Cleveland Browns prepares for the snap in the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: A fan watches the game between the Chicago Bears and the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Jabrill Peppers #22 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after completing a pass in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears looks to hand the football off in the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Akiem Hicks #96 of the Chicago Bears attempts to block the kick by Zane Gonzalez #5 of the Cleveland Browns in the second quarter at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Kyle Fuller #23 of the Chicago Bears (middle) celebrates with teammates after intercepting the football in the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: A fan dressed as Santa during the game between the Chicago Bears and the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: A fan braves the snow during the game between the Chicago Bears and the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears carries the football into the endzone for a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns in the third quarter at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears celebrates with Kendall Wright #13 after scoring against the Cleveland Browns in the third quarter at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Tarik Cohen #29 of the Chicago Bears points to show which way the football should go in the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: James Burgess #52 of the Cleveland Browns grabs Jordan Howard #24 of the Chicago Bears in the third quarter at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Head coach John Fox of the Chicago Bears runs off of the field after the Bears defeated the Cleveland Browns 20-3 at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Tarik Cohen #29 of the Chicago Bears celebrates after getting a first down in the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Bears defeated the Cleveland Browns 20-3. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Prince Amukamara #20 of the Chicago Bears picks up a fumble in the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Bears defeated the Cleveland Browns 20-3. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Fans cheer during the game between the Chicago Bears and the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Bears defeated the Cleveland Browns 20-3. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Jordan Howard #24 of the Chicago Bears celebrates after scoring against the Cleveland Browns in the third quarter at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Bears defeated the Cleveland Browns 20-3. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Prince Amukamara #20 of the Chicago Bears attempts to tackle Duke Johnson #29 of the Cleveland Browns in the third quarter at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Bears defeated the Cleveland Browns 20-3. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears (left) makes a snow angel with teammates after scoring against the Cleveland Browns in the third quarter at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Bears defeated the Cleveland Browns 20-3. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 24: Nick Kwiatkoski #44 of the Chicago Bears tackles Corey Coleman #19 of the Cleveland Browns in the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on December 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Bears defeated the Cleveland Browns 20-3. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
If Fox is indeed fired, it will end three years of service with the Bears. He has a 14-33 record going into what will reportedly be his last game, and no matter the outcome of the contest he will likely go down as the second-worst coach in Bears history in terms of winning percentage.
Numerous candidates have already been floated as replacements for Fox, including Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo.
