The Real Reason Why Ryan Pace Hasn't Already Fired John Fox

The loss to Brent Hundley and the Green Bay Packers was bad enough. Most felt that disaster more than earned Chicago Bears head coach John Fox his pink slip. It didn't happen. Two weeks later the Bears were positively dismissed by the Philadelphia Eagles 31-3 in a game they never had a chance in. Again the odds favored Fox's immediate removal. Again it didn't happen. Fans are struggling understand why. Fox is 12-31 as head coach. He's on the cusp of having his third-straight losing season in Chicago. Unless he can earn a couple victories down the stretch he may end up with the worst winning percentage in franchise history. Everything about his coaching this season says he doesn't have it anymore. So again. Why don't the Bears just cut bait now? It's obvious to everybody that Fox is done after this season. There is no measurable gain to keeping him around. Well as it turns out that's not entirely true. GM Ryan Pace has a clear, strategic reasoning for the move that was recently brought to light.

Ryan Pace using Fox to mask his replacement intentions

Odd as it may sound, the idea is that Pace may be keeping Fox in place to prevent Vic Fangio from taking over as the interim coach. What? That makes little sense. Fangio is the obvious choice to relieve Fox since he's been a popular head coach candidate the past couple years. Why would Pace want to prevent him from getting a chance at the job? According to former Bears scout Greg Gabriel, it's because he already has designs on who the next coach might be.

"However, according to several sources close to the situation, Fangio being named an interim head coach won’t happen. The reason that won't happen, we’re hearing, is that the Bears front office already has a list of names to interview as potential head coach candidates going forward and Fangio's name isn’t on it. If Fangio were to have success for a few games as an interim head coach, it could create significant pressure on Pace to give Fangio the job on a permanent basis even if he still isn’t convinced Fangio’s the right guy for the job."

Truth be told in this context one must at least nod at Pace for his savvy. He's playing the political game perfectly. Let everybody keep being mad at Fox, who is a definite goner at seasons' end rather than have them rally behind somebody they still like in Fangio. This is not to say Pace doesn't like Fangio. Word is the Bears have repeatedly tried to extend him as defensive coordinator. Pace just doesn't see him as head coaching material.

Who will it end up being? Only Pace knows that. If nothing else it's nice to know he has a plan and is almost ready to execute it.