Why Matt Patricia Should Be The Replacement of John Fox

The 2017 season hasn't even started yet. That hasn't stopped many Chicago fans from looking ahead to 2018. Most notably for potential John Fox replacements at head coach. It can be understood. The Bears have eight total wins in two years under the 62-year old. Hope is running out for this year already. So much in fact that most eyes are already on the future. Starting with who should replace him when the team inevitably fails. If that's how it is, then it's time to get the Matt Patricia Bears hype train revved up. People will jump on this idea right away. Chicago just drafted Mitch Trubisky. Common sense says they have to take an offensive-minded head coach, right? One who could groom the young quarterback into the star he can be. Listen, the logic of the argument is sound enough. It's also flawed. Just look to last season for confirmation. Of the top 10 passers from 2016, five of the quarterbacks played under defensive head coaches. If that's not enough, then how about this? Five of the previous 10 Super Bowls were won by quarterbacks who had a defensive head coach. So one could basically take from this that it doesn't matter whether the coach comes from an offensive or defensive background. It matters if he's any good at coaching. Just think of the name "Marc Trestman" for a reminder.

Matt Patricia Bears idea is solid on several levels

So why, of all people, should it be New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia? Let's start with the obvious. At just 42-years old he already has five seasons of experience as a coordinator. He also has three Super Bowl rings as an assistant coach dating back to 2004. The guy has gotten an up-close-and-personal view of what a winning organization is supposed to look, act and feel like. Then there's his background. Prior to getting back into football, Patricia almost became an aeronautical engineer. A true blue rocket scientist. The MMQB explained as much last November.

"In 2004, when the Patriots were at the height of their dynasty, they put out word that they had an opening for a “coaching assistant,” an entry-level position. A Syracuse football grad assistant named Matt Patricia applied, was summoned to New England and found he would be interviewing with Bill Belichick himself. Belichick grilled Patricia on plays, schemes and terminology. He kept pushing for more detailed answers, probing deeper with his questions, putting Patricia under constant psychological pressure. Patricia left the interview wondering, what just happened? He had studied aeronautical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Firms such as Boeing, General Electric and Lockheed Martin had flocked to RPI to recruit bright minds like him."

Suffice to say Patricia is an intelligent human being. One with the sort of complex, orderly mind that doesn't get flustered when things break down. Baltimore Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome said that when Belichick looks for coaches to hire, he basically looks for people like him. "Bill was looking for Bill." Watching Patricia react to tough situations on the sidelines, it's easy to see some similarities.

The man is a genius for maximizing personnel

Patricia now has two rings as a coordinator. His first came in 2014 and the other this past season in 2016. Want an idea for how ridiculously adaptable the man is? Here's a breakdown of his starting lineups at the start of each of those seasons.

2014

• Chandler Jones
• Rob Ninkovich
• Chris Jones
• Vince Wilfork
• Jerod Mayo
• Jamie Collins
• Dont'a Hightower
• Darrelle Revis
• Brandon Browner
• Patrick Chung
• Devin McCourty

2016

• Jabaal Sheard
• Alan Branch
• Malcom Brown
• Chris Long
• Trey Flowers
• Dont'a Hightower
• Rob Ninkovich
• Malcolm Butler
• Logan Ryan
• Patrick Chung 
• Devin McCourty

In essence Patricia won his second Super Bowl just two seasons after his first despite having seven new primary starters. Not only that but he made it even better. The 2014 defense ranked 10th in points allowed for that season. The 2016 defense ranked first. Patricia, like his mentor Belichick, is just so good at getting the most from the players he has. Isn't that the primary job of any head coach?

The good fortune of New York

Also there is the understated fact he was born and raised in New York. That might sound a little unusual but it's worth pointing out. The Bears franchise has had a ton of success whenever they've added players or coaches from that state. Their greatest quarterback of all-time, Sid Luckman was from Brooklyn. Former 1985 Bears hero Otis Wilson and 2006 Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye come from there. Hall of Fame guard Danny Fortmann also hails from there. This isn't even counting Jim McMahon who was born right across the river in Jersey City. That region has really been kind to Chicago in years past. Perhaps because the attitudes of men from there aren't all that different from the people here. They don't take crap and have no issues getting physical if there's a "disagreement." They have personality, and Chicago loves personality.

Fear the beard

Last but not least is the fact that Patricia has quite the impressive beard. Only Chicago fans know about this little quirk. Look at the most successful coaches in the city's history. Almost universally they all had the same thing in common, which was facial hair. It started with Mike Ditka and that trademark mustache. Phil Jackson soon followed with one of his own before growing a full beard. Then came Ozzie Guillen and that tight goatee. He was soon followed by Joel Quenneville with the Blackhawks and that silver mustache. It was only after his first year running the Cubs that Joe Maddon got wise to the trend. Is it any coincidence that the same year he grew his beard out, the Cubs won their first World Series in 108 years? John Fox hasn't learned this lesson. Matt Patricia won't even have to think about it.

The bottom line is this guy is not only qualified for the job, he fits it perfectly. Patricia is an intelligent man with winning experience who can adapt to any situation. He's a defensive guy at heart and embraces facial hair to its fullest. He was made to coach in Chicago.