John Fox hired to be next Chicago Bears coach

Just five days after losing his job with the Denver Broncos, John Fox has become the next coach of the Chicago Bears.

Fox has agreed to become the Bears’ 15th head coach in franchise history, Chicago announced on Friday.

Fox led the Broncos to four consecutive AFC West titles, but after a brutal Super Bowl loss last year to the Seattle Seahawks and Sunday’s playoff-elimination defeat at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts, he and the team mutually agreed to part ways. The Broncos have not named their next head coach.

Fox, who has won the AFC and NFC Championship, was 46-18 in Denver, thanks in part to the addition of veteran quarterback and future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning.

He coached the Carolina Panthers from 2002 through 2010. The Panthers got to Super Bowl XXXVIII in his second season but lost to the New England Patriots, 32-29.

In Chicago, he’ll be tasked with guiding the Bears -- led by quarterback Jay Cutler, who was benched at one point last season -- back to the postseason for the first time since 2010.

Following his second season in Chicago, Coach Marc Trestman was fired after the Bears went 5-11, finishing last in the NFC North, and posted their worst home record (2-6) since the 2007 season (4-4).

Bears General Manager Phil Emery was also terminated by the organization. He was replaced by Ryan Pace, who spent 14 years in the New Orleans Saints’ front office.

Follow Matt Wilhalme on Twitter @mattwilhalme