Is Denver's discarded coach good enough for Bears?

Sure, John Fox looks like an ideal choice for the Bears' next head coach based on his 46-18 record leading the Broncos the past four years, including an NFL-best 38-10 since 2012.

But it's worth considering that Fox was playing with a made hand, a team built to win immediately - and win big. General manager John Elway believed he had put together a roster talented enough to win the Super Bowl this season. The Broncos didn't come close, getting beaten badly at home, 24-13 by the Colts in Sunday's divisional-round game.

A day later Fox and Elway agreed to part ways.

The Bears haven't announced that they plan to interview Fox - yet - but it is scheduled to happen Wednesday. There is an NFC South connection between Fox and new Bears general manager Ryan Pace. While Fox was the Carolina Panthers head coach for nine years (2002-10), Pace worked in the New Orleans Saints' personnel department (2001-14).

On Tuesday, the Bears met with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and with Doug Marrone, who opted out of his contract after two years with the Buffalo Bills, where he compiled a 15-17 record.

Marrone took advantage of a loophole in his contract that allowed him to leave if there was a change in the team's ownership. Prior to leading the Bills to a 9-7 record this season, their first at .500 or better in 10 years, Marrone went 25-25 in four years as the head coach at Syracuse.

Marrone was considered a heavy favorite to succeed Rex Ryan, who was fired by the Jets, but his candidacy seems to have cooled.

Austin, in his first year as a defensive coordinator, guided a Lions defense that was one of the NFL's best. The Lions were No. 2 in total yards allowed, tied for No. 2 in points allowed and No. 1, by a wide margin, in rushing yards allowed. In two games against Austin's defense, the Bears rushed 30 times for just 77 yards (2.6-yard average).

As for Fox, whom many consider the favorite for the Bears' job, Elway could be excused for expecting more. The Broncos had nine players voted to this year's Pro Bowl, more than any other team. They were the only NFL team to finish in the top five in offense and defense.

But even with a loaded and pricey roster including Pro Bowlers Peyton Manning, Demaryius Thomas, Julian Thomas, Ryan Clady, DeMarcus Ware, Von Miller, Chris Harris, Aquib Talib and T.J. Ward, the Broncos were one-and-done for the second time in three years.

On the other hand, it's not Fox's fault that Manning, the quarterback the Broncos were built around, was often a disappointment in the playoffs, going back to his days with the Indianapolis Colts. Manning has been one-and-done nine times in the postseason and has a career 11-13 record in the playoffs, including 2-3 with the Broncos.

In nine years with the Carolina Panthers, Fox's teams fluctuated between very good and very bad. He made the playoffs three times, including his second season, when Carolina lost to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 38. That was just two years after the Panthers went 1-15 in George Seifert's final season as coach.

But Fox also coached three 7-9 Panthers teams, two 8-8 teams and the 2-14 disaster in 2010, after which he was not rehired.

Despite his 2013 Broncos team that set multiple records for offensive productivity, Fox has a reputation for producing teams that depend on defense and running the ball. Three of his last four teams without Manning, including two in Carolina, finished in the top three in rushing yards.

The Broncos' defense was No. 3 in yards allowed this season and No. 2 in 2012. But it was 19th in 2013 and 20th in 2011. In points allowed, the Broncos finished 24th in 2011 and then fourth, 22nd and 16th the next three years.

Fox had a serious health scare during the Broncos' bye week in 2013. After suffering symptoms on the gold course, he was hospitalized with a cardiac issue that required vale replacement surgery. Fox temporarily ceded his head-coaching duties to defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio. While Fox was recuperating, the Broncos went 3-1, but he returned and helped lead the run to the Super Bowl that ended with a 43-8 loss to the New England Patriots.

The Broncos got no closer to the ultimate prize, and in Tuesday's news conference, Elway said, "We disagreed about how to get to the next level," when asked about his split with Fox. "The biggest miss between us was how do we take that next step."

Elway was clear that he didn't have confidence in Fox getting the Broncos to the next level, which he defines as a Super Bowl victory.

"It was the right time, so we mutually agreed to part ways," Elway said. "I like John as a man very much. He is a very, very good man. He's got a tremendous heart."

Elway also said that Fox "was exploring what his options were," after Sunday's loss, which some have assumed referred to the Bears' head-coaching position.

Elway confirmed that Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase, who has interviewed for the Bears' head-coaching job, and Del Rio, are candidates to replace Fox in Denver. Both coaches remain under contract in Denver, but neither has interviewed for that job.

• General manager Ryan Pace has begun transforming the Bears' personnel department, starting with the departure of Kevin Turks, who was the director of pro personnel the past two years, the assistant for five years before that and spent 13 years in the organization.

• Cornerback Kyle Fuller and punter Pat O'Donnell were named to the Pro Football Writers Association 2014 all-rookie team.

•Follow Bob's Bears and NFL reports on Twitter@BobLeGere.