Here’s something that is pretty interesting to think about. Can you name the last head coach the Chicago Bears had who actually had prior ties to the team as an assistant? Don’t bother looking it up. It’s never happened. An assistant coach has never worked for the Bears, left for other teams, and then returned to take over the entire franchise before.
They’ve promoted their own assistants to the job before. Paddy Driscoll, Jim Dooley, and Abe Gibron all received that opportunity between 1956 and 1972. Since then it’s been nothing but a steady stream of totally new faces. The closest they came to hiring one of “their guys” was in 1982 with Mike Ditka. He’d been a Hall of Fame tight end for them in the 1960s but was never an assistant coach in Chicago.
Could that unusual trend come to an end next year?
It’s too early to declare Matt Nagy as a totally lost cause. His team is still 5-4 and in the thick of the playoff picture. Still, his offense remains an absolute disaster and the Bears have lost four of their last five games. So it’s fair to say his seat might be getting a bit warm. Enough to where rumors have circulated that team ownership is growing frustrated.
If the Bears go from 5-1 to missing the playoffs, it is difficult to envision Nagy returning. This would force George McCaskey to look towards the 2021 offseason at possible replacements. According to Tom Pelissero, a former Bears assistant is gaining a massive amount of steam out west. Enough to where it’s felt his ascent to head coach is a matter of when not if. That being Brandon Staley.
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“Staley is thoughtful, detailed and completely obsessed with football. People who have worked with Staley say he’s going to be a head coach — it’s just a matter of readiness. This is still really Staley’s first year in front of the room. But he has the tools.”
Chicago Bears can’t ignore Staley’s instant success
The Bears plucked Staley out of the college ranks in 2017 to become their outside linebackers coach. His work over the next two years was quite impressive. His group managed 15.5 sacks that first year despite not top tier talent. Then in 2018 when Khalil Mack arrived? Things took off. They accounted for 20.5 of the team’s 50 sacks that season.
Sadly the Bears would end up losing him the next season. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio left for Denver and took Staley with him to become their outside linebackers coach. His work soon drew the attention of Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay who made the 37-yeard old the team’s new defensive coordinator. A remarkable rise in just four years.
It was well-deserved too.
Halfway through the season, the Rams have the #2 defense in the entire NFL. Both in points allowed and total yards. They’re 2nd against the pass and 5th against the run with 25 sacks. Keep in mind this defense ranked 13th overall last season and jettisoned several of their starters including Corey Littleton, Clay Matthews, Eric Weddle, and Dante Fowler Jr.
For them to lose that many contributors and get significantly better is a testament to the work Staley has done. Work the Chicago Bears should take notice of. This guy is a problem solver. He takes what he has and makes the most of it. He’s smart, detailed, and shows an ability to adjust. All hallmarks a good head coach needs.
His prior experience in Chicago means he’ll be prepared for what to expect too. Everybody will focus on the next offensive guru. It would be a mistake to dismiss Staley just because of that. This guy can coach.