Several options for Bears next head coach |
It's day three of our Bears head coaching options as we continue to look into the potential names linked to the Bears. The past few days have been all about the logical fits to take over this franchise and coaches who possess unique qualities that could make the Bears better.
Given that Chicago is expected to be one of the most coveted job openings of the offseason, Kevin Warren and Ryan Poles will not have any issues finding someone to take over the Bears in 2025. The real question is whether these two, along with the McCaskey family, can get the hire right, which has been an issue since firing Lovie Smith. Whether that be Matt Eberflus, Matt Nagy, John Fox, or Marc Trestman, the Bears have gone through far too many head coaches in recent seasons, and you could make the case that it has ruined the development of Justin Fields and Mitch Trubisky. They can't afford to let that happen to Caleb Williams, as the next head coach would be wise to keep someone like Thomas Brown on the staff, who seems to have gotten Williams to play at an elite level. As is the case with every good candidate, there are some candidates that the Bears should steer clear from, and that is what this list is all about today. Perhaps the biggest surprise on this list is Bill Belichick, as there are reports out there that he would consider the Bears' job. I don't know what is harder to believe: that he would consider the Bears or that we have put him on the list of candidates to avoid. Make no mistake about it: Belichick is going to go down as one of the best, if not the best, head coaches ever to do it. From his regular-season success to his six Super Bowl rings, Belichick is a winner and knows how to win. What worries me most about bringing him in is his record without Tom Brady instead of with Brady. Once Brady left New England for Tampa, the Patriots began to spiral. Despite going 10-6 in Brady's first season away from New England, wins have been tough to come by the past few years. That alone makes you wonder how much of his success came from Brady and how much of it stems from him being a great head coach.
Kellen Moore is another name that is starting to be mentioned, and he is one candidate that should be avoided at all costs. After watching his NFL career fade after being a backup his entire career, Moore got involved in coaching, where he has spent most of his time as an offensive coordinator.
That all started with the Dallas Cowboys, where he was linked to their head coach opening a few years ago before he moved on to the Chargers and now the Eagles. He has had success working with QBs everywhere he has gone, which is a big reason why his name keeps popping up as a Head Coaching target.
However, considering that he hasn't landed a job yet or his inconsistent offensive production, he reminds me a lot of Josh McDaniels, who is a terrible head coach but a good OC. Moore may fall into that same category, and the Bears can't afford for that to happen.
Jon Gruden has broken his silence since being removed from the Raiders nearly five seasons ago and has indicated he would like to get back into coaching. Somehow, that got turned into he would be open to joining the Bears, but again, this is someone you need to be careful with.
Gruden has a long-standing reputation for working well with quarterbacks, especially young quarterbacks. The Bears have a young quarterback who would benefit from Gruden, but he has a lot of baggage, and Chicago may not be the team that can take on his badge.
As is the case in every hiring cycle, several college coaches might have the opportunity to coach in the NFL. That will once again be the case this offseason, as Ryan Day, Dan Lanning, and Lincoln Riley have been some of the names mentioned. However, hearing Marcus Freeman linked to the Bears was an immediate head-scratcher, as this is another name for the Bears to bypass.
That isn't to say Freeman isn't a good head coach because he is, but instead, he isn't ready to take on an NFL team. He has worked wonders in his three years with Notre Dame, getting them into the College Football playoffs this season. He is one of the more underrated coaches in the country, but the Bears have tried that route before, and it didn't work. Don't expect them to go the college route this time, as that could set this team back even further should it not work out.
