Since 2013, the Chicago Bears have had three different head coaches. In that time, they have produced one winning season. Given they are 3-6 at their bye week? The odds are rather solid they won’t again this year either. That is the biggest reason expectations are high that Matt Nagy will lose his job when the season concludes. Only a massive turnaround can save him now.
While fans are more than happy to believe this is true, they’re also somewhat apprehensive. Team chairman George McCaskey has had some rotten luck finding a good head coach since he took over the team in 2011. Putting the decision back in his hands is not something they’re wild about. However, there is a chance this time could be different. Why? A supposed undercurrent of belief that the Bears job will be the most in-demand of any that are likely to be available next offseason.
That is because of Justin Fields.
After a difficult start to his run as the starting quarterback, the rookie has really begun to elevate his play the past two weeks. In different ways too. He ran for 103 yards and a huge touchdown against the 49ers. Then on Monday night in Pittsburgh, he threw for 228 yards in the second half including the go-ahead touchdown with under two minutes to play. While the Bears didn’t win, it was a true showcase of how talented Fields is and how much better he could become. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports claims that because of this development, expectations are prospective head coaches will be scrambling for a chance to work with him.
“It’s still very early for the quarterback class of 2021, but I’m not sure how any impartial observer can watch them all play and not conclude that Justin Fields has the chance to be the most special of the bunch…
…He made five plays at Pittsburgh on Monday night that maybe a half dozen quarterbacks in this league can make, and he is only getting started.
By the end of the season, if the Bears are in the market for a new coach and GM, you will see candidates swooning and begging to get an audience.”
This is certainly a new feeling. While any NFL head coaching job is in demand since there are only 32 of them, the fact is some are more desired than others. Everybody knows it is a quarterback-driven league. There is a stark difference between teams that have one and teams that don’t. It seems like for the first time in decades the Bears may have one. Any smart coach would know landing on a team with a fixture at QB virtually guarantees longevity and a genuine chance to compete for championships.
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Chicago Bears still have to pick the right guy
While the top candidates may look to get an audience with the Bears this offseason, it will still fall to McCaskey to select the right man for the job. Not all top candidates are guaranteed to be a success. Everybody was convinced Matt Patricia would be a success when he finally left New England for Detroit. He ended up being an absolute disaster. This team has to find not only somebody who can get the most out of Fields but somebody who can put together a great team.
So who might they end up looking at? Word is they’re already researching potential candidates. It starts with the hottest offensive coordinators around the league. Brian Daboll in Buffalo, Kellen Moore in Dallas, and Greg Roman in Baltimore. There are defensive names out there too like Todd Bowles in Tampa Bay, Raheem Morris in Los Angeles, and Shane Bowen in Tennessee.
They’ll also explore the college ranks too.
Ryan Day coaches Fields at Ohio State. Jim Harbaugh has deep ties to Chicago and had a strong four-year run with the 49ers from 2011 to 2014. The Chicago Bears still have two months to continue gathering information. When the time comes to make a move, McCaskey should be well-informed and know who he wants to pursue.
