Just one day after head coach Mike McCarthy became a free agent, leaving his post with the Dallas Cowboys, he was in Wheeling, Illinois, to meet with the Chicago Bears. The organization brought him in on a private jet, put him into nice accommodations, and treated him to dinner. It was a far cry from the treatment they’ve given coaches in the past, confirming the belief that they had revamped their approach. It led many to wonder if the team was serious about making him their top priority for the head coaching position.
Marc Silverman of ESPN 1000 revealed that, contrary to widespread speculation, McCarthy requested the interview be in person. Up until then, almost every Bears meeting had been virtual, which downplayed the idea that Chicago was somehow enamored with the head coach. Things took another interesting direction when a source informed SM that the interview didn’t last as long as anticipated. Expectations were that it would take somewhere around five to six hours. Apparently, it “didn’t come close” to that.
One of two possibilities exists with Mike McCarthy.
The first is that he made such a strong impression that the Bears felt there was no need to let the interview play out longer than necessary. He checked every box. Now, the team simply has to satisfy the Rooney Rule in the next few days, and they can make the hire. The second is that McCarthy didn’t come across with the right message or plan the Bears brass were hoping for. It became clear he was only there to get another job and hadn’t done much homework on what he’d be facing in Chicago. He leaned on his reputation and expected that to be enough.
It isn’t clear what happened at this point. Yet it never feels like a good sign that an interview ends before it’s expected to. Chicago reported that the interview was completed yesterday at around 7:00 p.m. That is right in the middle of dinner time, despite reports they planned to wine and dine him. The source said it never really got that far. Again, one must not let speculation get out of control. Sometimes, meetings don’t need to last long. Still, it is hard not to feel like Mike McCarthy wasn’t well-prepared for this.
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@Bears57 The whole point to the Rooney Rule is to get exposure for minority candidates that were not even getting a look before. Obviously, there are owners who treat it like a sham like Bob Kraft just did, but all the old white dudes in the good ol boys club are dwindling, and black coaches are also telling them thanks but no thanks, like reportedly Aaron Glenn did to Bob Kraft. Regardless, I’m pretty confident the guys who created the rule knew there would be some of the old dudes who would circumvent it with bullshit interviews of guys they… Read more »
@Arnie, I would have to add Indy to your list. Why they would draft Anthony Richardson at #4, and then play him in his rookie year is ridiculous.
I was always kind of a fan of Chris Ballard, but if he had anything to do with that pick, I would never want him as our GM.
@JFK was AFK……you obviously take things way too seriously. I know how it works. @Bears57…100% agree
Well yeah Irishman… everyone knows the only way to end racism is to have a separate set of rules for minorities. What did you think the goal was? To treat everyone the same based on merit? Ridiculous! In all seriousness, everyone with two braincells to rub together knows that the Rooney Rule is ineffective and insulting to minority candidates. The only thing it requires is that teams do exactly what this article suggests they do, which is pretend to give minority candidates serious consideration. There’s no evidence at all to suggest that the number of minority coaches in the NFL… Read more »
@JFK was AFK You’re probably right about what the Raiders could offer. Them and Carolins are the two best destinations for any coach who wants a huge payday and a contract length they’ll never have to fulfill because they both always overpay for a hot name and then can them a few years in because they flamed out in the dumpster fire both organizations are. No one other than maybe Jacksonville is as poorly run from an ownership standpoint. Washington used to be on that list too, but Snyder was finally forced to sell.