The Chicago Bears have had the majority of their games broadcast on FOX this season, and we may have been given a rather unusual indication on Sunday that the team’s relationship with the network is not in a strong place.
During the Bears’ 14-9 win over the San Francisco 49ers, FOX broadcaster Thom Brennaman made what seemed like a passive-aggressive remark about not being able to interview Bears head coach Matt Nagy. It came after sideline reporter Shannon Spake shared some of the halftime conversation she had with Nagy.
Thom Brennaman to Fox sideline reporter Shannon Spake, who referenced her halftime conversation with Bears coach Matt Nagy: "I'm glad you were able to catch up to coach Nagy. We were unable to do that this week.''
Interesting detail to include.
— David Haugh (@DavidHaugh) December 23, 2018
It is customary for coaches to set aside some time to speak with the broadcasters and analysts who will be calling their upcoming game, so why was Sunday’s FOX crew unable to catch up with Nagy prior to Sunday? Better yet, why would Brennaman point that out on live television?
One line of thinking is that the Bears are unhappy with the broadcasting crew FOX has assigned to their games this season. Phil Rosenthal of the Chicago Tribune wrote about that at length earlier in the week, noting that FOX’s duo of Chris Myers and Daryl Johnston have called three Chicago games this season. Even though the Bears are 11-4 and have had a tremendous season, FOX has not assigned its top duo of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to any of their games. Perhaps that will change in Week 17 when they close out their season against the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings.
