The possible Chicago Bears head coach scouting reports continue. One thing the organization has shied away from over the years is the popular trend of hiring a young offensive mastermind. Matt Nagy was the closest they came in 2018. He was 40 at the time. The Bears had only hired somebody below that age once in franchise history when they promoted Jim Dooley in 1968. That didn’t go well, which may have scared them away from trying again ever since. Would they make an exception for Joe Brady?
Joe Brady is the ultimate roll of the dice.
Background:
There is always one candidate who rises to prominence virtually out of nowhere in a remarkably short span of time. Jon Gruden was one. Mike Tomlin was another. Sean McVay certainly qualifies. Could Brady be the next in that mold? It’s hard not to feel that way. Barely a decade ago, he was a linebackers coach at William & Mary at just 25 years old. He spent a couple of years as a graduate assistant for Penn State and offensive assistant in New Orleans before becoming the passing game coordinator and play caller for LSU in 2019. What followed was the greatest passing season in college football history as Joe Burrow threw 60 touchdowns, won the Heisman, and won a national title.
Brady used that momentum to make his NFL jump as offensive coordinator in Carolina. Teddy Bridgewater had his best-ever passing season in 2020, going for over 3700 yards. Unfortunately, disagreements over the direction of the offense with head coach Matt Rhule led to his dismissal after the 2021 season. Brady landed in Buffalo as their quarterbacks coach before getting promoted in 2023 to offensive coordinator. Josh Allen is now the favorite to win league MVP this season with 3,879 total yards, 36 touchdowns, and only five interceptions.
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Mentors:
Brady has gotten an education from different perspectives, unlike certain coaches from his background. He learned the value of recruiting and motivation from James Franklin at Penn State and Ed Orgeron at LSU. His offensive acumen undoubtedly came from watching Sean Payton in New Orleans during the last great years of Drew Brees. Lastly, he’s worked with Sean McDermott in Buffalo, who taught him how to craft a successful vision for an organization with a long history of losing prior to his arrival.
Pros:
- Elevates quarterbacks. Brady has maximized every QB he’s worked with, regardless of play style.
- Young. He is only 35 years old, meaning he has the potential for long-term stability.
- Known for creativity, using motion and formations to create favorable matchups.
- Has a reputation for not being stiff in his approach. Willing to be flexible.
Cons:
- Has never worked with a young QB in the NFL. Has benefitted from strictly veterans.
- Capacity as a leader is unknown. Has never been tested.
- Never lasted anywhere longer than three years. Does he have staying power?
- Benefitted from working in smaller markets. Chicago would be a far bigger challenge.
Comparison: Josh McDaniels
Stop if you’ve heard it before. A young, hotshot offensive wizard from an AFC East team helps his quarterback attain MVP status. That was McDaniels during his first and second runs in New England. Everybody was convinced he’d be a great coach. Obviously, it soon became apparent that McDaniels did not have the leadership capability to command an NFL locker room. This is the fear many have about Joe Brady. He’s an offensive wizard, to be sure. More than that is needed to build a champion. We won’t know if he has it until someone hands him the headset.
Well, he did good work with Burrow, who was clearly a young quarterback. I still worry about all the movement, and can he be the top guy. Some team will find out, in the next few years, I suppose. Sallie’s point that making Allen look good isn’t that difficult, and one could argue the same about Burrow. Getting Bridgewater to throw for 3700+ is something, though, for an otherwise so-so Panthers team. Seems to me like a higher risk than Johnson, with about the same potential reward.
I don’t know enough about Brady to give a really fair opinion. I know he first came in like mid-season or so after Buffalo’s OC got fired. When he came in he drastically improved their offense. He’s working with an elite QB which obviously helps immensely… but to be fair to Brady, that same QB was in place before ho got there too. So he no doubt made Allen better.
BearCub30, Bates has joined the lazy Nate Davis club.
I prefer Johnson’s background, performance, and look, far better than Brady’s. Who had the more difficult job and lower QB to uplift between Goff vs. Allen? That requires an easy answer.
Maybe he can get production out of Bates