(670 The Score) Bears special teams coordinator Chris Tabor is always checking the forecast in his line of work, scouting out weather conditions for his unit. But on Friday, he looked at the temperature for a different reason.
Tabor saw that at 2 p.m. the frigid winter conditions would be at their warmest temperature of the day, allowing him to briefly break from COVID-19 protocols and get outside for a walk. It’s a highlight of his day as he remains isolated away from the Bears after testing positive for the virus Monday.
“I’ve watched a lot of film and stared out the window a lot,” Tabor said Friday by video conference from his home. “It’s frustrating.”
Tabor is isolated, and he isn’t alone in these circumstances. The Bears are handling a COVID-19 outbreak within their team facility, one that includes all three coordinators – Tabor, offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and defensive coordinator Sean Desai – testing positive in addition to 12 players entering league protocols as of Friday morning.
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The Bears (4-9) have taken NFL-mandated precautions – and many of their own measures – to slow the spread within Halas Hall. But they understand it’s a fluid situation ahead of their game against the Vikings (6-7) on Monday night at Soldier Field.
For the coaching staff, uncertainty remains. Bears coach Matt Nagy is unsure which of his three coordinators – if any – will be cleared in time to coach Monday. On Thursday, Nagy also wasn’t sure of who would step into the respective roles on his coaching staff should the three coordinators remain in protocols.
"I'd say it's frustrating, but there's not much I can do about it,” Lazor said.
Lazor assumed the Bears’ offensive play-calling role in early October. He won't be allowed to communicate virtually Monday if he isn't cleared to return. Nagy would presumably return to the role of calling offensive plays, which he handled prior to Lazor.
The Bears could also lean more on offensive analyst Tom Herman, who has served on Nagy’s staff this season after being dismissed as Texas head coach last January.
“That speaks volumes to a guy who was a prominent head college football coming from the University of Texas who now is running cards on a scout team in the NFL,” Nagy said of Herman. “It speaks to his humility. So, he helps out that way. He gives a lot of great ideas and opinions, which I appreciate. I really enjoy his personality that way.
“What he’s done the past year has really been able to help us out with his knowledge and what he knows, but also we’ve helped him out too with letting him learn the NFL game.”
On defense, the Bears would likely turn to veteran coach Mike Pettine if Desai isn't cleared. Formerly the head coach of the Browns (2014-’15) and defensive coordinator of the Packers (2018-’20), Pettine is a defensive analyst for the Bears.
Desai is hopeful he'll be cleared by Monday and has been preparing the game plan as he ordinarily would if healthy.
“We’re just operating kind of as normal that way,” Desai said. “We’ve got a pretty good operation in terms of Zoom and how to manage Zoom, and we’re game-planning that way, been meeting with the staff on our normal game-plan schedules and we’ve been meeting with the units similarly. So, we’ve kind of operated as normal.”
The Bears dealt with a similar situation in late October, when Nagy tested positive for the virus and the coaching staff worked without him in the building. Tabor filled the role of interim head coach in Nagy’s place. Without Tabor, assistant special teams coach Brian Ginn would step into his position.
The Bears are one of several NFL teams dealing with a virus outbreak as cases rise around the league and the nation. It presents a challenge for those stuck in isolation.
"Obviously, this is not just a Chicago Bears thing," Nagy said. "This is throughout not just the league but the world."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.