George McCaskey had a rough start to the 2022 off-season. After firing GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy, he appeared in front of the media to discuss what came next. It was there he was asked about a story told by Olin Kreutz. The former Pro Bowl center explained that he was offered a job as an assistant to join the Bears coaching staff a few years ago. He would’ve been interested, except the offer was $15 an hour. The minimum wage in Chicago. He felt that was an insult and indicative of how McCaskey ran things.
The team chairman bristled at that and stated people would be wise to take what Kreutz says “with a pinch of salt.” He said the former Bear had a habit of not telling the whole story. In essence, McCaskey called the man a liar. Kreutz obviously didn’t like that and fired back on the radio that it was a personal attack indicative of McCaskey’s poor leadership. Fast forward six months and the animosity is stronger than ever.
Kreutz was asked about the incident during an interview on Sports Talk Chicago with Jon Zaghloul. Unsurprisingly, he didn’t hold back his feelings.
Olin Kreutz might be touchy on the subject, but he’s not wrong.
The Bears had one of their worst decades as a franchise since McCaskey took over in 2011. They’ve reached the playoffs only twice, failed to win either time and posted only two winning seasons. That isn’t exactly a fitting tribute to his grandfather’s legacy. Much of that is due to McCaskey’s decisions. He fired Jerry Angelo a year after taking over and allowed his GM replacement, Phil Emery, to fire Lovie Smith a year after that. He then signed off on the hiring of Marc Trestman over Bruce Arians.
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When that blew up in his face, he was casually manipulated into hiring Ryan Pace and John Fox. When that flopped, they shifted to Matt Nagy. Looking back, it is amazing how McCaskey hired five men so grossly inadequate at their jobs. Good leaders hire the right people to bring their organization success. Olin Kreutz understands that fundamental truth. That makes it easier to understand why he was so affronted when McCaskey called him out. In his mind, the man hadn’t earned the right.
It is unfortunate things reached such a point. Kreutz doesn’t seem interested in mending fences until he gets an apology. He may have to wait a long time.
My husband was diagnosed 3 years ago with dementia after he began to lose things. He would accuse someone of stealing, even in the night. He was on medication but his symptoms progressed to anger and short fuse over little things. This was a man who was soft spoken, slow to anger and gentle. It was such a change for us to try to manage a whole new way of living. He is 67, I’m 66 and I felt so stressed sometimes. I didn’t know what each day will start with. I retired in April that year and was with… Read more »
I’m sorry, but any coach, GM or Assistant all started out the same way. When Ron Rivera started with the Bears they had almost no money to pay him, but it was important to him. Now look at him. Everyone starts out making nothing, including the Nick Saban and BBS. If Olin doesn’t get that, I’m sorry. I wouldn’t rip MCCaskey for this one.
George McCaskey is grossly deficient as a part owner. How can someone on the payroll for 40 years be so incompetent in every facet of the Bears business? Kreutz might have some CTE head trauma. Regardless, McCaskey family must divest of their 51% ownership. Perhaps, his mother called this rally to sensibility just as Papa George Halas did when he hired Ditka for the rebuild. Took Ditka and staff three seasons. If she did I do hope her legacy includes junior’s acknowledgement as I being the driver for new GM is the perfect job for George McKaskey.
Ask Olin to get lost
At this point I’m concerned Olin Kreutz may have a touch of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). In one NFL-funded study former players of the U.S. version of football whose brains were examined, 87% showed the diagnostic signs of CTE. Among former National Football League (NFL) players in the sample, that number jumped to 99%! Symptoms of CTE include memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression, anxiety, suicidality, parkinsonism, and, eventually, progressive dementia. Symptoms often begin years or even decades after the last brain trauma or end of active athletic involvement. During hi splaying days Kruetz’ penchant for getting… Read more »