It’s clearer than ever the Chicago Bears aren’t messing around. Their entire end game for 2018 was to put a coaching staff in place that could get the most from Mitch Trubisky. Matt Nagy was the first hire. His work with Alex Smith in Kansas City is well-documented, turning the former first round bust into a three-time Pro Bowler.
From there Nagy worked quickly to bring in Mark Helfrich. He’s known best as a primary architect of the dominant offenses at Oregon from 2009 to 2015. His greatest work revolved around the recruitment and development of future NFL star Marcus Mariota. Together the two set records for offensive production and reached a national championship.
That’s two QB specialists in place. Is it possible a third might be on the way. The Bears quarterbacks coaching position is still open. Word has already come down they’re interviewing Texans QB coach Pat O’Hara and former Raiders offensive coordinator Todd Downing for the position. Now it appears they have another highly qualified name in mind.
Chicago Bears QB coach search aiming high with Darrell Bevell
One of the biggest surprises of the early 2018 off-season was the massive shakeup to the Seattle Seahawks coaching staff. Both their coordinators were fired in favor of new replacements. Darrell Bevell, their offensive coordinator since 2011, was the far bigger shock. Since his arrival the Seahawks had produced a top 10 scoring offense four times, reached two Super Bowls and won a Lombardi trophy.
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Amidst that work was his development of quarterback Russell Wilson into a four-time Pro Bowler. Now according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune the Bears are aiming to add him to their staff.
“Sources have said that former Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell could wind up in the mix as well. Bevell has not worked with Nagy previously, but they do have a common link. Nagy had a close relationship with Brad Childress in Kansas City. When Childress was the head coach of the Vikings from 2006-2010, Bevell served as his offensive coordinator.”
It’s hard to imagine that Bevell can’t find a job as offensive coordinator given his qualifications. Then again that’s what happened to Pat Shurmur when he left Philadelphia for Minnesota. Initially he was made tight ends coach before getting promoted. Bevell is a highly capable coach who knows the quarterback position inside and out.
His old school savvy mixed with Helfrich’s forward-thinking approach could be exactly what the Bears need to make Trubisky a success. Will Bevell accept the job? That depends on its appeal to him, and the offers he’ll get from other teams.
