Comparing fired Bears head coach John Fox to the field of NFL coaches illustrates why the Bears parted ways with him New Year’s Day. Bill Belichick (Patriots), Mike McCarthy (Packers) and Mike Tomlin (Steelers) fly above the rest of the field. Fox is stuck at the bottom with only 14 wins.
Of the seven head coaches hired with Fox at the beginning of the 2015 season, four are still employed. Two of those coaches, Dan Quinn and Jack Del Rio, have winning records in their three seasons with the Falcons and Raiders, respectively. Jets head coach Todd Bowles is below .500.
Fox compared to NFL coaches
Regular season wins and losses for NFL head coaches with their current teams*
Regular season winning percentage
- Above .600
- .500 – .600
- .400 – .500
- Below .400
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220
200
Bill Belichick (NE): 214-74
180
160
Marvin Lewis (CIN):
125-112-3
140
Mike McCarthy (GB):
121-70-1
WINS
120
Mike Tomlin
(PIT): 116-60
.600
100
Head
coaches
hired
in 2015
.500
80
.400
60
40
Jay Gruden (WAS):
28-35-1
20
John Fox: 14-34
Hue Jackson (CLE): 1-31
20
40
60
80
100
120
LOSSES
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220
Bill Belichick (NE): 214-74
200
180
160
140
Marvin Lewis (CIN):
125-112-3
Mike McCarthy (GB):
121-70-1
WINS
120
Mike Tomlin (PIT):
116-60
100
.600
80
.500
Head
coaches
hired
in 2015
60
.400
40
Jay Gruden (WAS): 28-35-1
20
John Fox: 14-34
Hue Jackson (CLE): 1-31
20
40
60
80
100
120
LOSSES
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220
Bill Belichick (NE): 214-74
200
180
160
140
Marvin Lewis (CIN):
125-112-3
Mike McCarthy (GB):
121-70-1
WINS
120
Mike Tomlin (PIT):
116-60
100
.600
80
.500
60
.400
Head
coaches
hired
in 2015
40
Jay Gruden (WAS): 28-35-1
20
John Fox: 14-34
Hue Jackson (CLE): 1-31
20
40
60
80
100
120
LOSSES
*Included in chart is Giants coach Ben McAdoo, who has already been fired.
John Fox’s career as head coach
Fox’s rebuilding magic with the Panthers and Broncos is especially apparent in his second year at those clubs, a trend that didn’t play out in Chicago.
John Fox’s career as head coach
With wins and losses by game, in regular season and postseason
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Carolina Panthers
9 seasons, regular season record 73-71
Regular season
Playoffs
7-9
11-5
7-9
11-5
8-8
7-9
12-4
8-8
2-14
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
.507
Regular season win percentage:
Denver Broncos
4 seasons, regular season record 46-18
8-8
13-3
13-3
12-4
2011
2012
2013
2014
.719
Regular season win percentage:
Chicago Bears
3 seasons, regular season record 14-34
6-10
3-13
5-11
2015
2016
2017
.292
Regular season win percentage:
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Regular season
Playoffs
Carolina
Panthers
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
9 seasons,
regular season
record 73-71
.507
Regular season win percentage:
8-8
13-3
13-3
12-4
Denver
Broncos
2011
2012
2013
2014
4 seasons,
regular season
record 46-18
.719
Regular season win percentage:
6-10
3-13
5-11
Chicago
Bears
2015
2016
2017
3 seasons,
regular season
record 14-34
.292
Regular season win percentage:
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Carolina
Panthers
Denver
Broncos
Chicago
Bears
9 seasons, regular season record 73-71
4 seasons,
regular season
record 46-18
3 seasons,
regular season
record 14-34
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
7-9
11-5
7-9
11-5
8-8
7-9
12-4
8-8
2-14
8-8
13-3
13-3
12-4
6-10
3-13
5-11
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Playoffs
W.C.
Div.
Champ.
S.B.
Regular season
win percentage:
Regular season
win percentage:
Regular season
win percentage:
.507
.719
.292
How Fox stands up versus Bears coaches
Since George Halas’ last season as head coach in 1967, the Bears have had only two coaches with winning records during their time with the team: Mike Ditka and Lovie Smith. The other coaches haven’t been great, a trend continued under John Fox.
There have been 50 seasons since Halas retired as head coach. Ditka coached for 10, and Smith for 8. In the remaining 32 seasons, the Bears finished with a winning record only five times.
Fox’s low winning percentage as Bears head coach puts him in such company as Jim Dooley and Abe Gibron.
Fox compared to other Bears coaches
Regular season wins and losses for Bears head coaches since 1968
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120
Mike Ditka
100
Lovie Smith
80
Below .500
Above .500
WINS
60
40
Jim Dooley
20
John Fox
Abe Gibron
20
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40
60
80
100
120
LOSSES
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120
Mike Ditka
100
Lovie Smith
80
WINS
Above .500
Below .500
60
40
Jim Dooley
20
John Fox
Abe Gibron
20
40
60
80
100
120
LOSSES
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120
Mike Ditka
100
Lovie Smith
80
WINS
Above .500
Below .500
60
40
Jim Dooley
20
John Fox
Abe Gibron
20
40
60
80
100
120
LOSSES
Note: NFL head coaches’ records are current as of Jan. 1.
Sources: Pro-Football-Reference.com, Chicago Bears, Tribune reporting
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