The Chicago Bears enter the 2015 season with expectations about as low as I can recall since the start of the Lovie Smith era more than a decade ago. No one around the team wants to use the “R” word, but this is a rebuilding year. New GM Ryan Pace opted to go with some younger players and jettison some costly vets who don’t figure to be part of the long-term plans.
The Bears lucked into getting veteran head coach John Fox, who parted company with the Denver Broncos after some philosophical differences with GM John Elway following Denver’s early exit from the playoffs last season.