Yesterday, I reported that the Chicago Bears are weighing their options at head coach. Matt Eberflus’ fate hasn’t been decided yet. GM Ryan Poles and team president Kevin Warren are waiting for the end of the season before determining things. A significant factor in this situation is the replacement options available. Warren would prefer if a change were to be made that the Bears are getting a clear upgrade. That would involve a potential big name becoming available once the season ends.
The name I’ve heard who has their attention is Mike Tomlin. His status in Pittsburgh is rockier than it’s ever been. Fans want him out. The team isn’t performing well. The Steelers have employed him for 16 years, and some wonder if the need for a fresh voice is at hand. If you were looking for further confirmation of this, Albert Breer of The MMQB provided it on the Rich Eisen Show.
Here is where it gets interesting. Around the same time, David Kaplan of ESPN 1000 went on his Football REKAP Live show and made this statement.
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Mike Tomlin could be the next Andy Reid.
People forget before Reid became an icon in Kansas City, he was an icon in Philadelphia. He dominated the NFC for years with the Eagles, reaching five NFC championships and a Super Bowl. However, things soured in 2012 when he went 4-12. Philadelphia felt things had gotten stale with Reid and decided to move on. He went to Kansas City, where he solidified his Hall of Fame career. Philadelphia eventually won a Super Bowl with Doug Pederson a few years later. It worked out for both sides.
Perhaps the same situation is happening with Mike Tomlin. His message isn’t resonating with the Steelers locker room anymore. Both sides may need a fresh start. The Bears are desperate for a coach with a proven track record of winning. Tomlin has ten playoff appearances, seven division titles, and a Super Bowl ring. He’s still only 52 years old, two years younger than Reid was. Chicago has every reason in the world to throw all the money at him if he becomes available.
If Tomlin did come to the Bears you gotta know he would bring the best staff he could get to set himself up for success. I could see him attracting talent like Bienemy for OC, and that would sure be something to see!!!!
@biff boogins How in this world could you say that Tomlin and Fox are the same? Fox was 100 years old when he came to Chicago. Tomlin, after all his experience, is still just 52 years old! What is happening to him in Pittsburgh is management giving him bad players. The GM never planned on life after Ben. Them he goes out and signs TRUBISKY? He will have a talented group of players with more coming in this offseason. It is an insult to compare Tomlin with Fox. Fox came in to cash checks before he retired. Pace didn’t even… Read more »
I would be leary of Tomlin as a HC. You don’t want a repeat of John Fox. The Steelers are currently a mirror of the Bears. Solid defense and no answers on offense and no signs they know how to fix the problem. In fact, they fired their OC mid-season, so Tomlin has failed to find the best coach to build his offense. Is that who we think can be the future for the Bears? If that is the option, I would stick with Eberflus and focus on finding the best OC available.
I was just listening to a broadcast on the radio the other day listing him and Belichek as to old school and behind the times. Not willing to step up the passing attacks. But you know, the Patriots and Steelers never were the same teams after losing Tom and big Ben.
Tomlin is the same as Eberflus, a Defensive Coach. He would just call more of an aggressive defense than Flus does. They could just save money and demand Flus to be more aggressive with his defense. Nothing else changes. If they hire a new HC the highest focus must be to continue developing Justin Fields if they decide to keep him, or having the task to develop a fresh new Rookie QB. No “Defensive” Coach should be hired to do that. Sure most of it would be on the OC but at the same time any OC could be gone… Read more »