NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that the Bears are planning to fire Mel Tucker after the season, barring significant improvement in the final three weeks of the year.
Rapoport also reported that the Bears are having a serious case of buyer’s remorse with Jay Cutler and doubt whether he can lead the team to the playoffs.
The Bears are 5-8 and have remaining games at home against the Saints and Lions before finishing the season at Minnesota.
The Bears rank 26th in total defense, 28th in pass defense and 17th in run defense.
Speculation about Tucker’s job security has swirled ever since allowing 50-plus points in back-to-back losses to the Patriots and Packers.
Rapoport said he isn’t convinced head coach Marc Trestman will lose his job.
View Rapoport’s string of tweets on the Bears below:
Barring significant improvement, I’m told the #Bears plan to part ways with defensive coordinator Mel Tucker after this season.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 7, 2014
From @Rapsheet: Bears having "serious case of buyer's remorse" over Jay Cutler deal. Considered benching him during Tampa Bay game.
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) December 7, 2014
Plenty of blame to go around for #Bears, who will say publicly they haven’t discussed staff changes. I’m told the plan is to have a new DC
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 7, 2014
As for Jay Cutler, there is serious buyer’s remorse. Inside the organization, there is doubt Cutler can lead them to where they want to go
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 7, 2014
Not convinced Trestman is out at this point RT @BearDownNation: @RapSheet Since Trest is walking the plank ... Pasqualoni like replacement?
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 7, 2014
Big problem for Jay Cutler comes in the run game and not checking out of bad plays. Not the only reason for run-game issues, but a big one
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 7, 2014