2016 Chicago Bears season
| 2016 Chicago Bears season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | John Fox |
| General manager | Ryan Pace |
| Owner | The McCaskey Family |
| Home field | Soldier Field |
| Uniform | |
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The 2016 Chicago Bears season will be the franchise's upcoming 97th season in the National Football League and the second under head coach John Fox. The Bears will enter the season with hopes of improving upon their 6–10 record in 2015.
Offseason
Organizational changes
After only one season, offensive coordinator Adam Gase was hired as the new head coach of the Miami Dolphins on January 9, 2016.[1] Two days later, quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains was promoted to offensive coordinator.[2] On January 22, Washington Redskins offensive quality control coach Dave Ragone, who had been a former assistant of Loggains with the Tennessee Titans, was hired to fill the vacancy at quarterbacks coach.[3] On February 12, the Bears hired former Rutgers offensive coordinator Ben McDaniels as an offensive quality control coach.[4]
On January 22, assistant special teams coach Derius Swinton joined the San Francisco 49ers as their special teams coordinator.[5] Three days later, wide receivers coach Mike Groh left the team to become the wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, while assistant strength and conditioning coach Jim Arthur followed Gase to the Dolphins.[6] 49ers' assistant special teams coach Richard Hightower was hired to replace Swinton on January 26.[7]
Roster changes
| Position | Player | Free agency tag | Date signed | 2016 team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LB | Acho, SamSam Acho | UFA | – | – |
| CB | Ball, AlanAlan Ball | UFA | – | – |
| OT | Becton, NickNick Becton | RFA | – | – |
| WR | Bellamy, JoshJosh Bellamy | UFA | – | – |
| G | Ducasse, VladimirVladimir Ducasse | UFA | – | – |
| RB | Forte, MattMatt Forte | UFA | – | – |
| TE | Housler, RobertRobert Housler | UFA | – | – |
| WR | Jeffery, AlshonAlshon Jeffery | UFA | – | – |
| DE | Jenkins, JarvisJarvis Jenkins | UFA | – | – |
| LB | McClellin, SheaShea McClellin | UFA | – | – |
| CB | McManis, SherrickSherrick McManis | UFA | – | – |
| WR | Mariani, MarcMarc Mariani | UFA | – | – |
| S | Martin, SherrodSherrod Martin | UFA | – | – |
| TE | Miller, ZachZach Miller | UFA | – | – |
| C | Montgomery, WillWill Montgomery | UFA | – | – |
| S | Mundy, RyanRyan Mundy | UFA | – | – |
| G | Omameh, PatrickPatrick Omameh | RFA | – | – |
| CB | Porter, TracyTracy Porter | UFA | – | – |
| S | Prosinski, ChrisChris Prosinski | UFA | – | – |
| LB | Reynolds, LaRoyLaRoy Reynolds | UFA | – | – |
| RB | Rodgers, JacquizzJacquizz Rodgers | UFA | – | – |
| WR | Thompson, DeonteDeonte Thompson | UFA | – | – |
| DT | Unrein, MitchMitch Unrein | UFA | – | – |
| RFA: Restricted free agent, UFA: Unrestricted free agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent | ||||
Free agency officially begins on March 9.[8]
The first transactions of the year occurred shortly after the conclusion of the 2015 regular season on January 4, 2016, when the Bears signed cornerback De'Vante Bausby, quarterback Matt Blanchard, center Cornelius Edison, running back Paul Lasike, wide receivers Marcus Lucas and Nathan Palmer, linebacker Danny Mason, tight end Gannon Sinclair and guard Martin Wallace to reserve/futures contracts. A week later,[9] former Houston Texans' defensive lineman Keith Browner was also signed on a reserve/futures deal.[10]
Draft
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | |||
| 2 | 41 | |||
| 3 | 72 | |||
| 4 | TBD | |||
| 5 | TBD | |||
| 6 | TBD | |||
| 6 | TBD | |||
| 6 | TBD | |||
| 7 | TBD |
- Notes
- The Bears acquired two additional sixth-round selections — one in a trade that sent defensive end Jared Allen to the Carolina Panthers, the other in a trade that sent linebacker Jon Bostic to the New England Patriots.[11]
- Exact numbers of the selections from rounds 4–7 will be determined when compensatory selections are awarded at the NFL's annual spring owners' meetings in March.
Preseason
Schedule
The Bears' preseason opponents and schedule will be announced in the spring.
Regular season
Schedule
2016 opponents
Listed below are the Bears' opponents for 2016. Exact dates and times will be announced in the spring.[12]
| Category | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|
| Division opponents (NFC North) | Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings | |
| Conference opponents (NFC East) | Philadelphia Eagles Washington Redskins | Dallas Cowboys New York Giants |
| Conference opponents (based on 2015 division placement) | San Francisco 49ers | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| Interconference opponents (AFC South) | Jacksonville Jaguars Tennessee Titans | Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts |
Staff
Chicago Bears staff | ||||||
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Current roster
References
- ↑ Campbell, Rich (January 9, 2016). "Bears need new offensive coordinator as Adam Gase leaves for Miami Dolphins". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
- ↑ Wiederer, Dan (January 11, 2016). "Dowell Loggains named new Bears offensive coordinator". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
- ↑ Dickerson, Jeff (January 22, 2016). "Bears hire Dave Ragone to coach Jay Cutler, quarterbacks". ESPN. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
- ↑ "Bears Hire Ben McDaniels As Offensive Quality Control Coach". WBBM-TV. February 12, 2016. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
- ↑ Alper, Josh (January 22, 2016). "Reports: Pat Flaherty to coach 49ers OL, Derius Swinton to coach special teams". Profootballtalk.com. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
- ↑ Hawley, Larry (January 25, 2016). "Bears lose another assistant coach as Mike Groh leaves for Rams". WGN-TV. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
- ↑ Wiederer, Dan (January 26, 2016). "Bears add Richard Hightower to coaching staff". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
- ↑ Mayer, Larry (January 21, 2016). "List of 2016 important offseason dates". Chicago Bears. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
- ↑ "Transactions". Chicago Bears. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
- ↑ Associated Press (January 11, 2016). "Bears sign DL Keith Browner to reserve/futures contract". USA Today. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
- ↑ Wiederer, Dan (September 28, 2015). "Jared Allen, Jon Bostic sent packing as Bears rebuild intensifies". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
- ↑ "2016 Opponents Determined". NFL Communications. January 4, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
External links
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