Ben Johnson, Mike Vrabel, and Joe Brady remain probably the hottest names as the Chicago Bears coaching search looms closer. This isn’t much of a surprise. All three have tons of momentum for different reasons. Johnson and Brady are the most successful offensive coordinators this season. Vrabel is the most proven former head coach available. If the Bears were looking for proven options to help their team, those are good places to start. However, as we’ve learned many times over the years, it is often the name you’re not looking at who ends up with the job.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reached out to several people around the NFL. Many of them came away with the same conclusion. They expect Chicago to give serious consideration to Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury for the job.
“People I’ve talked to around the league fully expect the Bears to interview Kliff Kingsbury for the head coach job because of his combination of experience, quarterback cachet and previous work with Caleb Williams.”
Kingsbury meets several criteria for the Chicago Bears.
While he is far from the most popular candidate, the fact remains he checks many of the boxes. Word has persisted that team brass want a head coach with an offensive background who can get the most out of Caleb Williams. Kingsbury has worked with prominent quarterbacks for years, including Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray, and now Jayden Daniels. The two were together for a season at USC and seem to have a good relationship. His offenses have generally been productive at both levels, though he’s earned a reputation in the NFL for losing steam as the season goes on. The other key is head coaching experience. Kingsbury held the top job at both Texas Tech and with the Arizona Cardinals. He knows the responsibility involved.
Sounds ideal, right? Well, there is one underlying concern. Kingsbury hasn’t done much winning. In his ten combined seasons as a head coach, he had a winning record twice. That doesn’t offer much hope he would be able to do much better in Chicago, which is a far bigger pressure cooker to coach in compared to Lubbock and Phoenix.
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Seriously look at Todd Monken. He has reorganized an offense, knows how to adapt to varying situations and has both developed quarterbacks and teams. The jump in productivity of Daniels was between his second to last year in college and his Heisman year. That was Daniels KNOWING how to coach himself. And the reapply it to his jump to the pros. The jump in productivity in Lamar Jackson from Greg Roman to Todd Monken is EXACTLY how they should look at coaching talent. If you want a “defensive” coach, look at Jesse Minter in LA Chargers. Or Chris Shula with… Read more »
@BearCub30
Jayden Daniels.
@Bear_Down
Follow the organization, not a single player or coach.
Football is like jazz musicians. People who KNOW, can adjust. People who don’t, NEED a script and they follow it religiously, 3000 years after it doesn’t apply anymore.
@jmscooby McCown can be “quarterback coach” because Kevin O’Connell calls plays. McCown may be ok, but it’s like everyone thought Getsy and Hackett would be good coordinators because Aaron Rodgers and Matt LaFleur called plays, or Adam Gase was good, while Payton Manning called plays, and Matt Nagy was good because Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes called plays. Look for someone who makes EVERY SINGLE PLAYER better. Not for someone who is around a star. McCown did not make Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison better. If you watch Seattle’s receivers get better after Shane Waldron leaves, or Green Bay’s entire receiving… Read more »
For coaching positions, it’s about “timelines.” Offenses are highly dependent on coordination, and I know Kingsbury has one aspect down, but not other areas. Kingsbury and Lincoln Riley, see the quarterback position as a linchpin to other aspects. They don’t emphasize offensive line play, as much as target options. Bears offensive coordinators waffle between the two. IF you develop your powerful “run” game, you develop an offensive line and coordinated blocking schemes that are COORDINATED. Between starters, back-ups, newbies and vets. The tight ends and receivers are included in that coordination. That is not Kingsbury. IF you develop a “wide… Read more »