John Fox not likely to return after third last-place finish in NFC North

John Fox is not expected to return as coach of the Chicago Bears after this season, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Sunday.

Chicago will finish last in the NFC North for the third consecutive season under Fox, who was hired by the Bears in January 2015 after a four-year stint as the Denver Broncos' coach. His contract with Chicago runs through the 2018 season.

Fox coached the Broncos to four consecutive division titles and a Super Bowl appearance, but he failed to duplicate that success with the Bears, who haven't had a winning season since 2012.

Entering Sunday's regular-season finale, Fox is 14-33 with the Bears and owns a career record of 133-122 in 16 seasons with Chicago, Denver and the Carolina Panthers.

His .298 winning percentage entering Sunday's game is second-worst in franchise history to Abe Gibron, who went 11-30-1 (.274) from 1972 to '74.

The Bears particularly struggled against their division rivals under Fox, going 3-14 against NFC North opponents over the past three seasons entering Sunday's finale against the Vikings.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, during Fox's tenure, the Bears have been held to 20 points or fewer in 30 games; they've scored 30 points or more just three times -- ahead of only the Browns, who have done it just once in that span.

Chicago has missed the playoffs in 10 of the past 11 seasons.