Brad Biggs: Could Bears keeping Vic Fangio pay off like Buddy Ryan move did?
Twenty-one player signatures were affixed at the end of a letter Gary Fencik wrote to Bears owner George Halas on Dec. 9, 1981, imploring him to retain Buddy Ryan and the defensive coaching staff in the midst of what the players figured would be sweeping change.
Two games remained in that season and, sure enough, coach Neill Armstrong was fired afterward, clearing the way for Mike Ditka to be hired with one stipulation from Halas: Ditka had to
