The past six years of Chicago Bears football can be directly traced to one man’s decisions. No, it’s not George McCaskey. Well, technically, it is, but there is another who has worked the puppet strings like a master. That is Trace Armstrong. The former Bears defensive end has become one of football’s most powerful coaching agents. Chicago knows this better than any team. He is the one who handed them their last two head coaches, Matt Nagy and Matt Eberflus.
Plenty of Bears fans are stressed out that Armstrong will strike again after Eberflus gets fired this offseason. The name haunting their dreams is Mike McCarthy, the embattled head coach of the Dallas Cowboys who is also on the cusp of being fired. However, he isn’t the one you should pay attention to. Matt Zamek of Trojan Wire revealed why in 2021.
“Trace Armstrong, the agent for both Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly, played this coaching carousel like a fiddle. He got what he wanted for each of his high-profile clients. He engineered two deals without real precedent in college football history. He just became one of the most powerful people in college sports, joining college football superagent Jimmy Sexton.
Trace Armstrong has made himself a figure athletic directors will want to talk to when they have a coaching vacancy. Few people thought anyone could pull off a Lincoln Riley-to-USC deal. Trace Armstrong did.”
Trace Armstrong has the perfect ammo to hoodwink the Bears again.
It is reasonable to assume that Chicago will enter the 2025 coaching market looking for somebody who can maximize quarterback Caleb Williams. That means someone who both believes in the former #1 pick and someone he would buy into. Lincoln Riley coached Williams for three years at Oklahoma and USC. The two have a strong relationship. Riley even called Williams before the Packers game to offer advice. There is little question the quarterback would probably jump at the chance to reunite with his former coach. Rumors of Riley jumping to the NFL have persisted for years.
Given the rumblings of discontent at USC over his lackluster 5-5 season, it might be the perfect time for him to bolt. Trace Armstrong would almost certainly push for him to replace Eberflus in Chicago. While Riley might be considered an offensive wizard, his track record as a head coach is underwhelming. He’s never once made a national championship game despite a preposterous run of quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield, Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray, and Williams. His reputation for building quality staffs is also rough. His defenses have routinely been among college football’s worst. He has also never worked in the NFL, meaning the chances of him connecting with a professional locker room are long.
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This is the likely result if the Bears try the Armstrong route again.
Here’s hoping Kevin Warren is smart enough not to be hood winked and put an end to this Trace Armstrong coaching orgy taking place at Halas Hall. It hasn’t worked in 6 years.
I think the Bears have had enough of Trace Armstrong and the clients he represents. The McKaskeys are making him richer then they need to.
What does Chris and Kyle think about this?
I concur, hell to the no.
If I were in charge, I wouldn’t even hire Reily as a OC. Let him start in the NFL as the QB coach, or maybe assistant QB coach/passing game coordinator, and work his way up. End of season, assuming Flus is relieved of duties, the Bears need to either choose a HC that is on the same page as Poles, or as the new GM if they also let Poles go. Then, that HC will choose assistants, with perhaps some input from Poles. Don’t force any coach on the coach the level above them. If the OC doesn’t want a… Read more »
I loved Trace Armstrong when he played for us, not so much as a NFL agent who’s pulled the wool over our eyes….