Shepkowski: Bears, Please Be The Fox-Catcher
By Nick Shepkowski-
(CBS) The Bears' search for a head coach continues today with John Fox reportedly headed to Halas Hall for an interview. Here's some quick, free advice for new general manager Ryan Pace and the rest of the Chicago front office.
Once Fox is inside, go lock the doors and don't let him leave until a contract is signed.
Don't overcomplicate this. Don't overthink the hire. Go get the guy who's available, who has won a playoff game with Tim freakin' Tebow as his starting quarterback and who coached two different franchises to Super Bowl appearances.
Denver general manager John Elway said Tuesday that the Broncos didn't appear to "go out kicking and screaming" when eliminated from the playoffs each of the last two seasons under Fox. Pardon me? If the players can't get themselves ready to play in the Super Bowl, then hang up the damn spikes, because there's no reason you should be playing in the NFL.
The arguments against hiring Fox are each dumber than the next.
"He's 59, he's too old to be a good NFL coach!"
Bruce Arians was 61 when the Cardinals hired him. Bill Belichick is 62. Tom Coughlin has won two Super Bowls since turning 60. Next.
"But he hasn't won a Super Bowl!"
You're right, losing in the final seconds to Tom Brady and Belichick with Jake Delhomme as your starting quarterback is clearly pathetic.
C'mon. Fox has been to the playoffs seven times in 13 seasons as an NFL head coach. Peyton Manning on his roster or not, that's impressive and should be welcomed to a squad that has only been to the postseason seven times total since 1990. And instead of complaining about it, go find me the Super Bowl champion coach who's actually available.
Fox finished with an above .500 winning percentage in Carolina despite having to suffer through his final season with Jimmy Clausen as his starting quarterback, a season in which the Panthers went just 2-14. It was an awful year, but what do expect for a team that lost one of the best defensive players in the game in Julius Peppers that previous offseason and had to start a rookie quarterback who isn't anything beyond a career backup. Say it with me in your best Thom Brennaman voice: "A recipe for disaster."
And finally, as important to me as anything is a look at the staffs that John Fox has successfully put together throughout recent years.
Jack Del Rio is nearing a deal to become the new Raiders coach after working with Fox the previous three seasons, but long ago, Del Rio was discovered by Fox, who put him on his staff in Carolina before Del Rio earned a spot as the Jaguars coach.
Dennis Allen was ultimately a failure in Oakland (what coach isn't?), but he was Fox's defensive coordinator in 2011 before landing the Raiders job in 2012. Allen impressed enough to get consideration for that head coach job after working under Fox.
Mike McCoy was given a shot as an offensive coordinator with Fox before landing the Chargers head coaching job. He won a playoff game last season.
Fox's latest offensive coordinator is Adam Gase in Denver, and he's likely get a head coaching job for the 2015 season.
See a theme here yet? Fox knows how to hire a staff, an often underrated element to evaluating a head coach.
Remember the dreaded Lovie Smith days of never being able to find a quality offensive coordinator? Fox is a guy who has an eye for hiring a quality staff on both sides of the ball.
Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn may go on to do great things as an NFL head coach after recently having interview with the Bears, but to me, Fox is proven enough to know it's a can't-miss hire.
So lock up those Halas Hall doors and work until the end of the night if it takes that long to work out a deal. At this point, anything less than a John Fox hiring will feel like a disappointment to me.
Nick Shepkowski is a weekend host at 670 The Score and produces The Spiegel and Mannelly Show each weekday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. You can find all of his work here and follow him on Twitter @Shep670.
