{"id":98944,"date":"2020-11-30T17:21:09","date_gmt":"2020-11-30T22:21:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=98944"},"modified":"2021-03-13T14:26:46","modified_gmt":"2021-03-13T19:26:46","slug":"we-are-seeing-worst-previous-chicago-bears-eras-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/11\/30\/we-are-seeing-worst-previous-chicago-bears-eras-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"We Are Seeing the Worst of Previous Chicago Bears Eras in 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

The levels of bad we have seen from the Chicago Bears<\/a> this season have combined aspects from many recent eras. None of them are good. With just five weeks, an apparently pride, left to play for, we will see how strong this culture really is. But if we\u2019re being honest, we are far beyond evaluations of just about any of these players. That’s certainly true for anyone on the coaching staff or in the front office.<\/p>\n

We are living through all the worst parts of Bears football over the last 30 years in one season. So much so that it isn\u2019t even upsetting at this point, becoming more comical than anything; borderline fascinating even. We\u2019ve excoriated Matt Nagy<\/a><\/strong> and Ryan Pace<\/a><\/strong> to death. But the evidence is overwhelming. This is a problem that is way above either of their pay grade, let alone capabilities.<\/p>\n

Fans Re-Living Previous Bears Eras in 2020<\/h2>\n

No Magic Wanny<\/h3>\n

Dave Wannstedt<\/a><\/strong> had the unenviable task of trying to follow in the footsteps of the second-greatest coach in Chicago Bears history in Mike Ditka<\/a><\/strong>. Anytime you\u2019re following someone who goes by a nickname it\u2019s an uphill climb. Wanny came in riding high off his work as the defensive coordinator for the Super Champion Dallas Cowboys.<\/p>\n

He went 40-56 during his tenure, making one playoff appearance and beating the Minnesota Vikings. But he only had two seasons above .500 (both 9-7) and ended with back-to-back 4-12 seasons. He was also brought down by poor draft selections (namely Rashaan Salaam<\/a><\/strong> and Curtis Enis<\/a><\/strong>), bad free agency moves (Bryan Cox<\/a><\/strong> deal, Rick Mirer<\/a><\/strong> trade), and injuries at key positions (Erik Kramer<\/a><\/strong>). Sound familiar? Wanny found some success in Miami. But his Bears tenure was bad, ending with a 1-11 record against the Green Bay Packers.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChiSportUpdates\/status\/1333417247914688512<\/p>\n

Jauron-imo<\/h3>\n

Surely, Dick Jauron<\/a><\/strong> would have a better start and subsequent tenure as Bears head coach. Right? Not when the team\u2019s first-round pick that season was Cade McNown<\/a><\/strong>. Jauron added wins to the Bears total upon his arrival. Jumping from four to seven (and then back down to five) just isn\u2019t a sustainable model. He was fired two years after reaching the playoffs with a 13-3 record (and losing after quarterback Jim Miller<\/a><\/strong> was knocked out against the Philadelphia Eagles).<\/p>\n

Jauron made 23 quarterback changes during his time in Chicago, continuing a trend basically started under Wannstedt. McNown\u2019s flame-out meant dealing with Miller, Shane Matthews<\/a><\/strong>, Chris Chandler<\/a><\/strong>, and Kordell Stewart<\/a><\/strong> until Rex Grossman<\/a><\/strong> was drafted in 2003. That ultimately led to more fiery debates but those would be another coach\u2019s problem. For what it\u2019s worth, many believe Jauron\u2019s downfall was more due to loyalty to his coordinators than him personally.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Show Some Lovie<\/h3>\n

History was made when the Bears hired Lovie Smith<\/strong><\/a>, a defensive coordinator for the (at the time) St. Louis Rams, who became the first Black head coach in team history. Smith went 81-63 as Bears head coach. By far the best winning percentage outside of Nagy (which gets worse every week) and Da Coach. Smith could orchestrate just four winning campaigns in nine seasons but did reach the Super Bowl in 2006, making history in the process joining Tony Dungy<\/a><\/strong> as the first Black coaches to coach in a Super Bowl.<\/p>\n

In his final season, the Bears started 7-1. They ended 10-6 and out of the playoffs for the fifth time in his last six seasons. His record against Green Bay, whom he made a key point of wanting to beat at his first presser as Bears coach, suffered a similar slide.While dealing with the Grossman-Kyle Orton<\/a><\/strong> debates and Jay Cutler<\/a><\/strong>, he couldn\u2019t figure out his offensive coordinator and got axed. The players didn\u2019t like the decision and the defense bottomed out too. The Bears have only made the playoffs once since Smith, and have beaten the Packers three times.<\/p>\n

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Aaron Rodgers now has 51 career pass TD and a 105.3 passer rating against the Bears@AaronRodgers12<\/a> also has 50 pass TD and a 108.5 passer rtg against the Vikings<\/p>\n

No other player in NFL history has 50+ pass TD and a 100+ passer rating vs even one single opponent<\/p>\n

— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) November 30, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n