It was beyond any doubt that the Chicago Bears coaching search would be large and comprehensive. GM Ryan Poles said as much during his end-of-season press conference. Names would be involved that might shock some people. He’s been as good as his word so far, with Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell being some of the bigger surprises. Add another to the list. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that the Bears are hoping to speak with Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman about the job at some point in the near future.
This is a surprise for several reasons. For one, Freeman is another college coach. The Bears haven’t hired one since 1930. Another is that he recently signed a lucrative extension with Notre Dame. One would think he’d have no interest in going somewhere else. Yet the Bears should be at least intrigued by him. He took a program that had clearly plateaued under head coach Brian Kelly and turned them into a disciplined, physical team that battled its way to the national title game. Throw in the fact he was drafted by the Bears in 2009 and it’s easy to see the appeal.
Ryan Poles is smart to at least speak with Freeman.
The man has invigorated a program many felt was stuck in its ways. After Kelly left for LSU, it was considered a likely dip into obscurity. Instead, Freeman has adapted the program to the new realities of the NIL era. His players are tough, well-coached, and relentless in their effort. No wonder Ryan Poles is interested. The 39-year-old embodies many of the traits he laid out in his criteria for the next coach. However, prying him away from Notre Dame feels like a tall order. He loves it there. Also, it would require a lot of money to make happen. Chicago isn’t prone to ponying up for head coaches. Freeman would really have to blow them away in the interview, presuming he takes it.
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@BearCub30 Yeah, I get it with the similarity to the Waldron hire, but there were a few differences. Poles was involved, sure, but there is nothing in his three year history to say that he doesn’t defer to the HC in making every assistant coach decision. The closest Poles came to stepping on the toes of his HC was (if you believe the reports), the one who insisted Thomas Brown be added to the staff in spite of losing out to Waldren for OC. So, I still believe that was a Flus hire that Poles allowed him to make rather… Read more »
Vrabel to the Pats was predicted by pretty much everyone following the NFL coaching carousel this offseason. So, after that, anyone in the Ben Johnson sweepstakes will be sitting on their hands until Detroit loses, or they win it all. If the Saints and Jets are both interested in Aaron Glenn, they are in the same boat. So expect very little movement until Detroit is done. I suppose if the SB is KC vs. Eagles then stuff might happen during the Pro Bowl week (the NFL strongly discourages teams from making any big moves during the week before the Super… Read more »
@Arnie – Oh I get it and I get some of these are prop up resumes interviews too. But we also did this same thing with our OC search last offseason. Poles was also full involved with that. Just seems like a lot of peacock 🦚 to say we are doing our due diligence but in reality what are they doing? I don’t mind them talking with guys but this public display just seems over the top. Again I don’t know all the league rules but just a simple phone call that isn’t announced would be just as viable. If… Read more »
@BearCub30 If you’re worried about the Bears just doing the same thing, and actually doing what most teams with failed head coaches do, is you almost start with a shortlist and quickly hire from there, then you should embrace this process. Basically, none of us know much of anything about any of the candidates other than what we read or hear from other people who know almost nothing about most of the candidates. Football front offices aren’t much different and too often, they just gravitate to the guys that they know, have worked with previously, or worst of all, that… Read more »
If they do all these interviews and get it right and everything works the bears will look like “hey they finally got it”. If they do all this work and get it wrong the bears will look like the dumbest team ever. This feels like way too much Deja vu with the same approach as “Waldron”. That made us look like complete morons and is why most question this approach again. I’m tired of looking like the laughing stock of the league! I would rather see that we already knew who our coach was going to be once we fired… Read more »