It isn’t fun having to constantly change the power structure of your organization. There is a feeling of helplessness involved. Yet the Chicago Bears don’t seem to have much choice. It is like playing darts. Throw enough times at the board and the law of averages says you’ll hit the bullseye eventually. After failing to secure the necessary head coach and GM to get the organization back to prominence for the third time, George McCaskey has big decisions ahead of him this January.
There is one lingering fear going into this situation for many fans. Is it possible the top candidates for those positions in this cycle might balk at the idea of joining the Bears? The dysfunction that has happened around this organization in the past is well-documented. That Trestman disaster in 2014. Now the nonsense with Nagy this year. To some, it feels like this makes the jobs seem radioactive. Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune spoke to other higher-ups around the NFL. The answer he got back was more than a little encouraging.
“It’s the Chicago Bears,” said one league executive who has monitored Halas Hall activity in previous hiring cycles. “I mean, are you kidding me? That’s one of the iconic franchises in one of the greatest sports towns in the world. It’s hard to beat that.”
In many league circles, the Bears are identified as a sleeping giant with a belief that the grandest goals are attainable and the sport’s most euphoric highs possible if the right collection of people is assembled to take control.
This is hard to argue.
Everybody knows Chicago is a sports town. Especially when it comes to the Bears. When this team wins, the energy in the city is palpable. If you play or coach well? You’ll become a legend. That is why guys like Mike Ditka, Jim McMahon, and Buddy Ryan get talked about even today. They may not be Hall of Famers, but they’re icons because they delivered. Reaching that kind of status is something every professional aspires to.
It gets even better. Apparently, not everybody is as down on the Bears roster as many fans think. While it is older and depleted in certain areas, there is a conviction that enough young talent exists to execute a swift rebuild if resources are managed correctly.
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Dungy might not garner overwhelming backing in that assessment. But inside several league circles, there is a sense that the Bears have a nucleus of young, talented leaders to build around in linebacker Roquan Smith, running back David Montgomery, wide receiver Darnell Mooney and cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
Smith and Johnson have already established themselves as studs on defense. Montgomery is the identity of the Bears offense while Mooney is their most explosive passing weapon. If Justin Fields continues to improve? The potential of this team seems quite high.
Chicago Bears are much better positioned than in 2015
Back then they had an older roster with depth issues. The difference was they had almost zero young pieces to rebuild with. Kyle Fuller proved to be the only notable name that went on to become a Pro Bowl player. That doesn’t seem like the case this time. A smart GM and patient head coach could have this team back in the playoff conversation as early as next season. Provided they can help Fields take the next step.
Much of this depends on what McCaskey plans to do. If he approaches the process the same way as before with Ted Phillips by his side? There won’t be many reasons for optimism given their track record to this point. However, if Phillips steps away from football operations and there are some changes to the structure? It might finally seem like the organization is pointed in the right direction.
All Bears fans can do is wait.
Four games remain in the season. The NFL has instituted a new policy where teams are allowed to start interviewing head coach and GM candidates two weeks before the end of the regular season. That means the Bears should have a decision made a day or two after Christmas. It should be an intriguing time.
