The Chicago Bears are meeting with several head coaching candidates over the coming days. They had hoped Mike McCarthy would be one of them. However, the Dallas Cowboys blocked their request for an interview since he was still under contract. Most believed that was a signal McCarthy would land a contract extension. They were wrong. A few days later, the veteran coach was given the green light to explore other options. He is officially a free agent. Chicago was the first team to line up an interview, which takes place on Wednesday, January 15th.
Here is where it gets interesting. Up until now, almost every single interview the Bears have conducted has been virtual, with the exception of Ron Rivera. Most felt that was a way for them to comply with the Rooney Rule, satisfying one of the two necessary meetings with a minority candidate. That is about to change. McCarthy’s interview will also be in person.
Mike McCarthy seems to have a clear advantage now.
No, it doesn’t guarantee the job is his. Still, most experts believe coaches who interview for jobs in person have a considerable advantage over those on Zoom. The widespread assessment is that McCarthy is an ideal candidate for the Bears. He has a wealth of head coaching experience across 18 seasons. He’s won a Super Bowl and successfully developed a young quarterback. Aaron Rodgers became a superstar under his direction in Green Bay. There is no doubt he has something to offer Caleb Williams.
He also knows the NFC North division well. If the Bears were looking for a safe choice with a high chance of making this team competitive, Mike McCarthy is that guy. The fact they’re willing to meet him in person so quickly can’t be ignored. Don’t expect a decision right away. McCarthy is expected to also interview with the New Orleans Saints early next week. Chicago still has several other coaches to meet and are probably awaiting their next opportunity to speak with Ben Johnson, who remains in the playoffs.
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His “development” of quarterbacks is debatable. Tom Clements was given the job as quarterback coach of the transition from Favre to Rodgers. McCarthy called plays but Favre was a cowboy, to some extent, so was Rodgers.
There have been a number of coaches who have had modest success under McCarthy, and a number of players, but there has been a reason not even Jerry Jones would retain him.
Nor should the Chicago Bears.
Personally, I think he would make a decent offensive coordinator for Mike Tomlin (and McCarthy is from that neck of the woods).
Personally, I do not think Dak is an accurate QB down the field. He can’t put a team on his back and carry them to a SB. For some reason, my brother loves the guy, but he’s a Dallas bobo.
Ugh! Mike McCarthy is a decent coach, but he doesn’t either develop players or coach coaches to develop players. His offenses use big, strong receivers, but not a variety of options and he’s never developed a power running offensive line. Everything he,’s done has been good.
I am not impressed. These older coaches who haven’t developed a “tree” are susceptible to the length of the season and playoffs. In variably players get injured
So who are coached to rotate in when starters are healthy, and take over if someone goes down?
Let me be the voice of rationality: no ugly rumors about Caleb discovered.
It’s funny that the two QB’s who have supposedly had conflict were Aaron Rodgers and to a much much lesser degree, Dak Prescott. The thing is, both of them were developed by and had their best seasons under McCarthy, particularly in Rodgers’ case. So, you just have to ask yourself if you think conflicts with QB’s is really a thing, given the actual history, and knowing that Aaron Rodgers in particular is a complete douche bag that thinks he both owns the team he plays for and walks on water, who do you think is responsible for any conflict there… Read more »