The Bear’s Den, January 2, 2018

BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!

BEARRRSSSS

DeWitt: John Fox Fired - A Black Monday Reaction and Recap - Da Bears Brothers - Take a listen as Da Bears Brothers react to Ryan Pace's press conference, analyze John Fox's tenure, and look ahead to potential head coaching candidates.

Biggs: Bears add Eagles QB coach John DeFilippo to interview list - Chicago Tribune - The Bears have requested permission to interview Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, a rising star and a guy who has received a lot of credit for the rapid ascension of Carson Wentz.

Biggs: Bears request permission to interview Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks - Chicago Tribune - Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has emerged as the first candidate the Bears will meet with as they seek the 16th head coach in franchise history.

Kane: John Fox’s 'emotional' Monday message to Bears players was 'definitely hard to watch' - Chicago Tribune - While John Fox fell out of favor with many fans, media members and eventually the Bears front office, several players made it clear he didn’t lose the locker room despite a 5-11 season.

Campbell: Bears extend GM Ryan Pace's contract through 2021 - Chicago Tribune - The Bears extended general manager Ryan Pace's contract through 2021 on the same day they fired coach John Fox.

Campbell: Bears fire John Fox after 3 seasons - Chicago Tribune - The Bears fired coach John Fox. General manager Ryan Pace will begin a coaching search immediately.

Wiederer: As coaching search begins, Bears vague on Vic Fangio's status - Chicago Tribune - On the day the Bears fired John Fox and gave Ryan Pace a contract extension, we learned more about the status of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and the team's future.

Detroit Lions fire coach Jim Caldwell after missing playoffs - Chicago Sun-Times - Caldwell was 36-28 in four seasons and went 0-2 in two postseasons with the Lions. Including three years with the Indianapolis Colts, he is 62-50.

Cahill: What John Fox said 3 years ago when he was hired - Chicago Sun-Time - Under John Fox, the veteran turnaround expert, the Bears averaged 4.66 wins over three seasons.

Bears coaching candidate interview tracker - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears are beginning their search to replace head coach John Fox. Follow their progress here:

Jahns: Five things we heard from Bears players during locker clean-out day - Chicago Sun-Times - The John Fox era officially ended Monday. As players cleaned out their lockers, here are five things we heard and learned at Halas Hall.

Finley: Off knee surgeries, Bears' Cam Meredith, Leonard Floyd unsure about timelines - Chicago Sun-Times - Both Bears wide receiver and Cam Meredith and outside linebacker Leonard Floyd reported their knee rehabilitations to be on going along smoothly.

Cahill: Bears players show support for John Fox on social media - Chicago Sun-Times - Though the McCaskeys and fans might not be in accordance, it sounds as though Bears players will miss their departing coach.

Cahill: Odds listed for Bears' next head coach - Chicago Sun-Times - Sorry, Jim Harbaugh fans, but Josh McDaniels and Pat Shurmer are the co-favorites to replace John Fox as the Bears' next head coach.

Finley: Bears extend general manager Ryan Pace through 2021 season - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears gave Ryan Pace a contract extension Monday, allowing the GM's timeframe to match up with whomever he selects as the team's next head coach.

Morrissey: What alternate reality are the Bears living in? - Chicago Sun Times - The team gives general manager Ryan Pace a contract extension, insists that the franchise is on the right track, despite a dismal three-year record.

Potash: Bears give GM Ryan Pace the coaching hire he deserves — now it's up to him - Chicago Sun-Times - This is his chance - his first one and very likely his last one - to re-create the Sean Payton-Drew Brees model he seeks.

LeGere: Chicago Bears fire coach John Fox despite his belief team has improved - Daily Herald - After winning just 14 of 48 NFL games, the Chicago Bears have fired coach John Fox. A news conference has been set for 4 p.m. today.

Mullin: GM Ryan Pace grateful for contract extension but knows 'I have to do a better job' - NBC Sports Chicago - Ryan Pace said he was grateful for the contract extension the Bears gave to him, but he knows he needs to do a better job moving forward.

Coaching search rumors: Bears will have competition for John DeFilippo - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears and Arizona Cardinals both have requested to interview Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, according to multiple reports.

Mullin: Bears extend Ryan Pace through 2021 season - NBC Sports Chicago - Ryan Pace agreed to a contract extension. The move was announced by Ted Phillips at the end of season press conference.

Mullin: For Bears and John Fox, a three-year slide that never reversed - NBC Sports Chicago - John Fox posted the second-worst winning percentage in franchise history. In the end, that was enough to seal his fate.

Emma: Breaking Down Bears’ Head Coaching Candidates - CBS Chicago - Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels tops the list of names the Bears should explore to be their next head coach.

Emma: Bears Fire Head Coach John Fox - CBS Chicago - Tabbed to turn around the Bears, Fox posted a record of 14-34 in Chicago.

Emma: Bears Give GM Ryan Pace 2-Year Extension Through 2021 - CBS Chicago - The Bears are just 14-34 in Pace's three seasons leading the way.

Arthur Arkush: Chicago Bears extend GM Ryan Pace's contract through 2021 - Pro Football Weekly - Bears see key characteristics of successful GM in Pace despite 14-34 record

Perez: John Fox issues statement after being fired by Bears - Bears Wire - Fired coach John Fox issued a statement shortly after his termination by the Bears

Perez: Bears to meet with Panthers DC Steve Wilks about head coaching job - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears have requested permission to meet with Carolina Panthers DC Steve Wilks

Perez: Bears chairman George McCaskey admits rebuilding effort has taken longer than expected - Bears Wire - Chicago Bears chairman George McCaskey admitted Monday that the team's rebuilding effort has taken longer than expected

Mayer: Bears extend Pace’s contract through 2021 season - ChicagoBears.com - Hours after parting ways with coach John Fox Monday, the Bears announced that general manager Ryan Pace’s contract has been extended through the 2021 season.

McManus: Bears, Cardinals ask to interview John DeFilippo for head coaching job - ESPN - The Eagles' quarterback coach has been lauded for his work with Carson Wentz.

Dickerson: Chicago Bears give GM Ryan Pace extension through 2021 - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears have given GM Ryan Pace a two-year extension through 2021, with the announcement coming the same day they fired coach John Fox.

Hawley: Ryan Pace gets two-year contract extension as he starts search for new Bears’ coach - WGN-TV - Almost as rare as playoff appearances for the Bears so far this decade has been the sight of their President at a podium. But when Ted Phillips talked on Monday at Halas Hall at a new conference, he did so with a purpose and a little bit of news.

Hughes: Bears Should Hire Eagles Quarterbacks Coach - Da Bears Blog - At the end of the 2013 season, when Phil Emery was looking for Lovie Smith’s successor, I wrote a column endorsing Kyle Shanahan for the job. That column was met with across-the-board rejection from not only readers but friends in the media and around the league. My argument was simple. I thought Shanahan was going to be a great head coach soon enough, knew he had a terrific relationship with Jay Cutler and wanted the Bears to grab him before he became a hot commodity. Sure enough, a few years later, Shanny went on to create explosive offenses in Atlanta and become the hottest coach on the market in 2017.

Wiedman: Chicago Bears End Season with Atrocious Play Calling - Our Turf Football
OTFB's Wanda Wiedman reviews the last game of 2017, and discusses the future of the franchise.

Mayer: John Fox out as Bears head coach - ChicagoBears.com - Bears general manager Ryan Pace has informed John Fox that he will not return as head coach in 2018. Pace will conduct a press conference at 4 p.m. today to discuss the move.

Mayer: Players react to departure of John Fox - ChicagoBears.com - Bears players described a brief but emotional final team meeting with departing head coach John Fox Monday at Halas Hall.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Battista: Assessing the QB situation at each open NFL head-coaching job - NFL.com
Will Andrew Luck make life easy on the Colts' next coach? Or will his shoulder complicate things? Judy Battista breaks down the QB situation facing candidates at each open NFL head-coaching job.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Western: Ted Thompson will step down from Packers’ GM job, per report - Acme Packing Company - In a shocking move, the Packers’ GM is reportedly going to move into a new role with the team.

Reisman: Jim Caldwell releases statement after being fired as Detroit Lions head coach - Pride Of Detroit - Jim Caldwell was his classy self in a statement Monday night.

Detroit Lions 2018 head coaching search: News, rumors and analysis tracker - Pride Of Detroit - Every bit of news and rumors surrounding the Detroit Lions’ head coaching search.

Reisman: Detroit Lions seek interview with Packers assistant head coach/linebacker coach Winston Moss - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions have a sixth head coaching candidate.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Infante's Bears vs. Vikings: Notes from the final game of the John Fox era - Windy City Gridiron - The 2017 NFL regular season has come to a close, and for the Chicago Bears, it was a quite a maddening one. Their season ended on New Year’s Eve with a 23-10 loss on the road against the Minnesota...

Wiltfong: Chicago Bears Coaching Search 2018 - Who do you want as the new coach? - Windy City Gridiron - Vote in our poll of the day and let us know who you’d like to see coaching the Chicago Bears in 2018.

Wiltfong's Snap counts, stats and more: Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings - Windy City Gridiron - We'll list out the complete playing time breakdown, and spotlight a few individual and team statistics from the Chicago Bears in their 23-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings

Zeglinski: John Fox was the failed experiment the Bears never should have started - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears gave into the impression of old fashioned stability. In turn, the results they received with Fox were predictable.

Wiltfong: Chicago Bears reserve/futures deal tracker - Windy City Gridiron - The Chicago Bears are starting to build their offseason roster, and the reserve/futures deals are the first step in that process. Only players that did not end 2017 on an active roster are eligible...

Householder's Bears GM Pace Press Conference Recap: ‘It’s got to be the right guy’ - Windy City Gridiron - The coaching search is on

Zeglinski: Bears extend Ryan Pace's contract through 2021 - Windy City Gridiron - The personnel man will now receive fresh opportunity and patience with a second head coach and his quarterback Mitchell Trubisky in tow.

FANPOSTS

Brotherjongrey: We are built to run a zone blocking scheme - Windy City Gridiron - Howard would be wasted in a power run scheme... hitting the hole with authority isn't in his wheelhouse. He gets yards with vision and patience. Our offensive line is also built around a zone...

FanPosts - Recent - Windy City Gridiron - Here's a link to our FanPost section, where YOU have the opportunity to contribute to Windy City Gridiron. Take a few minutes and write a post about what you are thinking about regarding the Chicago Bears, and there's a chance it will be linked right here in the Den.

THE RULES

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The Bear’s Den Specific Guidelines – The Bear’s Den is a place for Chicago Bears fans to discuss Chicago Bears football, related NFL stories, and general football talk. It is NOT a place to discuss religion or politics or post political pictures or memes, and any posts that do this will be deleted and the poster will be admonished. We do not allow comments posted where the apparent attempt is to cause confrontation in the community. We do not allow gender-directed humor or sexual assault jokes. The staff of WCG are the sole arbiters of what constitutes “apparent attempt to cause confrontation”. We do not allow the “calling out” of other members in any way, shape or form. Posts that do this will be deleted on sight. Bottom line, it’s fine to debate about football, but personal jabs and insults are strictly prohibited. Additionally, if you keep beating the same dead horse over and over and fail to heed a moderator’s warning to stop, you will be banned.

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