And while the team only improved one game in the standings from 5-11 in 2014 to 6-10, Pace and Fox fostered a 180-degree culture change throughout Halas Hall, bringing accountability and respect.
After suffering lopsided losses of 41, 28 and 21 points the previous season, the Bears were in virtually every game in 2015. Six of their final seven defeats came by margins of 3, 3, 2, 6, 3 and 4 points with two of the losses in overtime.
The Bears opened the season by dropping their first three games to the Packers, Cardinals and Seahawks, opponents that have made the playoffs the past two seasons while combining for a 68-28 record in 2014-15.