Elite Coaches Could Be In Line To Replace John Fox

Rest assured that it's not a bad thing if the Chicago Bears are already lining up potential John Fox replacements. The 62-year old head coach should count himself fortunate. There were plenty of reasons to justify him being fired this year. Yes, continuity is important but so is team progress. Going from 5-11 in to 2015 to 3-13 last year wasn't what this franchise had in mind. In the end the heavy injuries were cited as justification to give him a second chance. That's fair but it also sets the expectations for 2017 crystal clear. Either the team shows a significant improvement or in all likelihood he's fired. We're talking at least six wins, and that's setting the bar at its absolute lowest. Several analysts don't believe he'll even be able to hit that mark. If that ends up being the case, GM Ryan Pace could make the change. According to Sports Illustrated columnist Chris Burke, there could be some reputable names ready to take his place if and when that happens.

John Fox replacements have something he doesn't

Burke did a breakdown of every head coach in the NFL who can be considered on the hot seat for 2017. Of course Fox was near the top of the list, ranking third with a "scalding" label. However, there were also two other surprise names on the list. Men with solid reputations and something else. Something Fox has chased his entire career. Super Bowl rings. The first was Sean Payton, head coach of the New Orleans Saints. An old friend of Pace, it's possible missing the playoffs for the fourth-straight season could be his death knell.

"Frustration is mounting in the Big Easy, where the Saints have posted back-to-back-to-back 7–9 finishes. Worse yet, the player around which the offense (and arguably entire roster) is built, Drew Brees, turned 38 in January and is closing in on the end of his career—the front office certainly won’t want Brees to go out in quiet fashion after a Hall of Fame-caliber career. That the Panthers and Falcons have played in the Super Bowl the past two seasons, respectively, only cranks up the pressure on Payton."

Bringing in Payton would be a natural thing. Not just because Pace knows him well but because the 53-year old would be the absolute perfect guy to develop Mitch Trubisky as the Bears' franchise quarterback. He has many similar qualities to Drew Brees. It's not hard seeing him run that Payton offense on a high level.

The other Harbaugh

Turns out Jim Harbaugh might not be the only one in his family the Bears could pursue either. His brother John Harbaugh is also considered a danger for getting fired. Ever a team with high standards and expectations, the Baltimore Ravens haven't had consistent success the past few years. Is it possible another hiccup might cost him?

"Greg Bedard speculated in early December last year that Harbaugh’s job could hinge on Baltimore’s final five games. The Ravens finished 2–3, including a Christmas Day heartbreaker in Pittsburgh, to wrap an 8–8 year. Harbaugh is back, obviously, but is patience starting to wear thin? Since winning the Super Bowl in 2012, the Ravens have missed the playoffs three of a possible four times and they’re a combined 13–19 the past two seasons. Harbaugh’s success cannot be erased, but it won’t take long to tire of looking up at Pittsburgh in the AFC North."

Crazy as it sounds, Harbaugh might be an even better choice than Payton. For one he has experience as both a special team and defensive coach. He's shown a much greater ability to manage an entire roster. Not just one phase. Also he has proven to be more consistent. In nine years as head coach, the Ravens have had just one losing season. They've made the playoffs six times and hold a record of 10-5 with a Super Bowl win under his guidance. In the end both men are younger and more accomplished than Fox is or was. They have the jewelry to prove it. If Pace maintains his stance on desiring head coaches with experience, then they would make ideal replacement options. Fox better hope he either avoids the ax by winning enough games or that neither of them become available.