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John Fox could not keep himself out of the game.

The former Giants defensive coordinator was out of the NFL for four seasons after he was fired as head coach of the Chicago Bears after the 2017 campaign. He got a gig as an analyst for ESPNs coverage of the league he spent the previous two decades, then retired to Florida with his family during the coronavirus pandemic.

But the more he watched the NFL from his couch instead of the sidelines, the greater the itch to return grew. He tested the waters as a senior defensive consultant for the Indianapolis Colts last season, and this upcoming 2023 campaign, he will serve in a similar position with the Detroit Lions.

I think whenever even ex-players, a lot of players that Ive coached, when they get out of the game, you miss the camaraderie, you miss the day-to-day, you miss the closeness of the people cause you work very, very close, whether youre playing or coaching, Fox said, according to the Detroit Free Press. So I missed that. Naturally, youd miss that. Its like an old boys club.

But digging into it, what I missed I felt more than just the camaraderie was the, How can we stop this? How can we mess them up in this area? Its the chess match part of it. I didnt realize Id miss it that much, and really enjoyed that a year ago and looking forward to doing that all over again here.

Fox left the Giants in 2002 when he was namedPanthershead coach. The next year, he led Carolina toSuper Bowl XXXVIII, which it lost to theNew England Patriots,32-29.

Fox took over asBroncoshead coach in 2011, and two years later, withPeyton Manningat the helm of the offense, led Denver to an NFC title. But the Panthers lostSuper Bowl XLVIIIto theSeattle Seahawks,43-8, atMetLife Stadium.

In 16 seasons as an NFL head coach, Fox won 133 games and made seven playoff appearances.

In Detroit, Fox joins aLionsteam on the rise. They finished the 2022 season bywinning five of their six final gamesto narrowly miss landing an NFC wild card.

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Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com.

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Ex-Giants coordinator comes out of retirement because he misses NFL chess match - NJ.com