After mutually parting ways with the Denver Broncos on Monday, John Fox has scored a head-coaching position with the Chicago Bears. The move marks the third head coaching gig for Fox since 2002. Prior to his four years spent in Denver, he spent nine coaching the Carolina Panthers.

Fox first interviewed with the Bears this past Wednesday. By all accounts the hire is no real surprise, as ownership was clearly intent on pairing first year general manager Ryan Pace with a veteran head coach. Word is, Fox was given a ringing endorsement by New Orleans Saints head-coach Sean Payton, who spent many years with both Fox in New York (with the Giants) and GM Pace in New Orleans. Such a vote of confidence or voucher for Fox from Payton was said to go a long way toward the decision. Fox is the first Bears coach with prior head-coaching experience since 1956.

Although Fox won the job almost immediately, the Bears did interview a series of other candidates, including Detroit Lions’ Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin, former Buffalo Bills’ coach Doug Marrone, Denver Broncos’ Offensive Coordinator Adam Gase and Seattle Seahawks’ Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn. However, in desperation to restore order to a franchise that has been founded on good defense, Fox was considered the right man for the job. Prior to becoming a head coach in 2002, Fox served as DC for the Superbowl appearing New York Giants in 2000.

As The Bronco’s head man, Fox went 46-18 for an astounding winning percentage of 71.8. He now moves from a bona fide perennial playoff powerhouse in Denver to a fledgling Chicago Bears squad in much need of rebuilding. QB Jay Cutler was benched at the end of the year for having more turnovers than any other quarterback, despite being the highest paid player in the league at his position. How Fox handles his embattled QB and shell of defense will be interesting to see, and likely a far more challenging one than he had with Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning.

According to NFL.com, Fox may be in competition for assistant coaches with Raiders new head-coach Jack Del Rio. Both men served on the Broncos staff this past season, so it only makes sense they would vie for former colleagues. Per the Chicago Tribune, Washington Redskins’ OC Kyle Shanahan looks to be the front runner to lead Fox’s offense in Chicago. Such a move would make sense, as Shanahan has been publicly open about his support for Cutler.

If true, Shanahan will have to perform at a much higher level than previous offensive minded head-coach Marc Trestman, who was ousted after two season and a 13-19 record in Chicago. Under Trestman, Jay Cutler and his whopping seven year, $126.7 million contract grossly underachieved by almost every conceivable measure, failing to reach the playoffs for two consecutive years.

Now that Fox has moved to the Bears, Denver still needs to fill its head-coaching vacancy. Ex-Bills head-man Doug Marrone is slated to interview with Denver, as is in-house OC Adam Gase and Cincinnati Bengals defensive backs coach Vance Joseph.