With four games left to play, it’s still not entirely certain what the Chicago Bears are going to do. Based on the latest speculation from those close to the team? The likelihood is exceedingly high that they will clean house next month following the end of the regular season. That means GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy will both be out. Perhaps even team president Ted Phillips as well.
At that point, the search will be on for the next regime. In regards to the head coach, there is interest in figuring out which direction they may go. This may prove difficult to answer until they find the next GM/team president. That being said, a source told SM that it is possible the team may end up seeking somebody with prior head coaching experience.
Perhaps a byproduct of watching Nagy struggle so much this season. If this does end up being the case, who are some names that might be in play? Here is a list of ones to watch.
Chicago Bears search for experience will include these names
Jim Harbaugh
This is probably the hottest name people will be talking about for the next month. Harbaugh has coached at Michigan since 2015 and looks like he could be seeking an exit door if the program doesn’t renew his contract. Word is the veteran coach still has admirers in the NFL for his great work in San Francisco which included three NFC championship appearances and a Super Bowl berth. Combine that with his strong ties to the Chicago Bears organization as a former QB? This is one that can’t be ignored.
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Pat Fitzgerald
The Northwestern head coach has garnered a lot of respect around the NFL the past couple of years for the job he’s done with that program. Their excellent start to 2020 has only enhanced that reputation. Already the Green Bay Packers tried to pry Fitzgerald away last year. Word is the New York Jets are also interested. Thus far the man has declined all inquiries. Most believe the only pro job he’d go for is the Bears given their proximity to home and him being a huge fan of them growing up.
Bill Cowher
Former QB Boomer Esiason dropped an interesting little bomb recently when he said his CBS sports colleague Cowher might be considering a return to coaching. The man retired back in 2007 after several years in Pittsburgh which included a Super Bowl title. Ever since then people have speculated whether he’d eventually return. At age 63 it feels like if he’s ever going to give it a try, it would have to be now. The key is whether a franchise can make a strong enough offer to lure him out of his cushy analyst job.
Jim Schwartz
Some people may have forgotten that Schwartz was head coach in Detroit for a number of years. He helped drag the Lions from ground zero of a winless 2008 back to the playoffs by 2011. Unfortunately some missteps the next two years cost him the job. Since leaving he’s done excellent work as defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills. He’s produced three top 10 units in six seasons and helped win a Super Bowl in 2017.
Leslie Frazier
The former Chicago Bears defensive back has established a reputation in the NFL as one of the more respected defensive coaches in the game. His first foray into head coaching with Minnesota included a playoff run in 2012 but he wasn’t able to overcome a bad quarterback position. Since leaving he’s done some really nice work as a defensive coordinator. He transformed Tampa Bay into a top 10 unit in 2015. Then did the same in Buffalo in 2018 and 2019. Despite being 61-years old, many feel he deserves another crack.
Raheem Morris
It should not be understated the job that Morris has done since taking over for Dan Quinn in Atlanta. After the team started 0-5 this season, Morris took over and has gone 4-3 since. This includes a 43-6 throttling of a pretty good Las Vegas Raiders team. It was always felt the guy could coach. He did some good things down in Tampa Bay including a 10-6 mark in 2010 but was undone by a limited roster and maybe him being a little too young. He’s older and wiser now. If Atlanta decides to not keep him, then he should be interviewed.
Todd Bowles
The Bears actually almost hired Bowles back in 2015 before they opted for John Fox. He went to the Jets instead and went 10-6 his first year. Sadly he was taking over a team that was on the cusp of a rebuild and eventually got fired. Since leaving he’s done just fine as a defensive coordinator in Tampa Bay. His units have ranked in the top 5 in takeaways for two years in a row and rank 7th in the NFL for 2020. His defense combined with a quarterback, something he never had in New York and you might have something.
