The Chicago Bears requested an interview with Mike McCarthy when he was still employed by the Dallas Cowboys. It was denied. Jerry Jones sent a seemingly clear signal that he wished to keep the veteran head coach in silver and blue. A few days later, news broke that McCarthy would not be returning. He’d become a free agent. Just 24 hours later, he took a private jet to Chicago, where he met with team brass for several hours. It would appear he is already a finalist for the job.
It isn’t hard to see why McCarthy would be interested. The Bears have a solid foundation with good players across the roster. Most importantly, they have a young quarterback in need of development. The head coach has a long track record of success on that front. However, there may be another reason he has eyes for the job. It is possible he sees it as an opportunity to claim something he’s never really had before, which is significant roster control. Bill Zimmerman of Windy City Gridiron revealed how.
It centers around the fate of GM Ryan Poles.
McCarthy checks a lot of boxes the Bears are looking for. He’s an offensive-minded guy for Caleb Williams, he’s an experienced coach, and is he a leader of men? I think that can be questioned but he does have a history of winning which I don’t think the Bears will ignore.
The Saints are also quite interested in McCarthy as well, so it’s always possible that the Saints scoop in and land McCarthy as well. The two names that are rumored to be high on the Saints list are McCarthy and Aaron Glenn.
Also one other note about McCarthy, I think he would sign with the Bears and have no issue if the Bears don’t extend Ryan Poles.
Mike McCarthy might be playing the long game.
Some see Poles not getting a contract extension as a lack of stability. Others see it as a chance to bring in somebody more familiar after one season. McCarthy would undoubtedly have a say in that process, especially if he managed to produce a good first year in Chicago. Keep in mind throughout his 18 years as a head coach, he never had any definitive say in the makeup of his roster. In Green Bay, former GM Ted Thompson always has the final say. McCarthy was known to be frustrated with his stubborn refusal to be more active in free agency. Then, in Dallas, it was the same thing. Jerry Jones had the final say on roster decisions, and he never made aggressive moves, either.
Mike McCarthy must be thinking that if he can just wait Poles out, he can convince Kevin Warren to bring in somebody who will know how he wants the roster built—somebody willing to be aggressive when the situation calls for it. Every coach seeks the most power he can grasp. It appears McCarthy senses an opportunity in Chicago. The Bears have never given a head coach the final say on roster decisions, but he could skirt that by getting Poles replaced with a GM he’s closer to.
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@Arnie —
I just re-read your rant (your earlier post).
You’re actually Ryan Poles, aren’t you?
Could I get you to sign one of those “darts” you use to make your draft selections?
Thanks, in advance (just leave it in the grass outside the facility)
@Arnie —
Wasn’t Dan Quinn’s name on that supposed list that George and Bill Polians presented to Ryan Poles?
You know — that Dan Quinn whose GM, Adam Peters drafted Jayden Daniels, and hired Kliff Kingsbury as the Commanders OC?
Couldn’t Ryan Poles have done that same thing — but didn’t?
Just sayin’.
@TGena I think the Bears will have a better record with Poles than Tennessee will with Borgonzi.
@Arnie — The TN Titans just hired Mike Borgonzi away from his AGM position in KC — to become the Titans new GM. Borgonzi was one of the GMs I had suggested as a viable replacement for Ryan Poles — in the GM-down, Halas Hall housecleaning, I proposed. Ian Cunningham also interviewed for the Titans position, as he had last year for the Commanders GM spot (and lost to Adam Peters). Titans ownership is among the worst in the league; and this hire is not related to Bears GM Ryan Poles in any other way, than what I am about… Read more »
@TGena Yes, you COULD look at it that way, which of course you choose to because it reinforces your agenda of blaming Poles for everything, but there are many other possible explanations. One of which is much more likely in my view. Going back to 2022, the Bears hire a GM whose entire career has been spent up to that point working in a front office whose focus was always on providing a roster that fit the vision of the chosen head coach. Then, you have owners, tired of listening to people talking about what a mistake they made in… Read more »