Coach John Fox was at the helm of the Denver Broncos, coached them in a division play-off defeat, was fired, and then the Chicago Bears hired him. All in five days. Such is the dizzying world of an NFL coach.
The fact that Fox somehow tumbled out of the Rocky Mountains and fell into the laps of Chicago is a steal for a struggling Bears franchise. Fox brings instant credibility to an organisation yearning for it.
In four years in Denver, Fox had a combined 46-18 record, won a play-off game with Tim Tebow at quarterback and then captured the AFC West title in three consecutive seasons while Peyton Manning ran the offence. The numbers do not lie – Fox is a proven winner.
Any coach will say that winning consistently is the way to job security. So something bad must have happened because, on the surface, Fox was successful.
Still, Broncos general manager John Elway brought the hammer down on the entire coaching staff a day after their play-off setback and he has quickly started his replacement search.
Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, a former Broncos quarterback and long-time assistant coach, will be interviewed this weekend. Former Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone is also on the shortlist.
Elway still has Manning in the cupboard. For now.
If he retires, though,it will take a lot longer than five days for Elway to clean up the mess he has created in Denver.
agray@thenational.ae
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