With 12 confirmed candidates to interview, the Chicago Bears have cast a wide net in their search for the next general manager. One thing that has become clear with their list is all types are being considered. The classic scouting guys of course, but also analytics specialists and cap gurus as well. They are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to find the right guy for the job. Maybe one of the most surprising names they decided to meet with was Glenn Cook.
A former linebacker out of Miami, he transitioned to scouting in the 2000s. By 2012, the Green Bay Packers hired him to join their department. With his help, they acquired some of the best players on their current roster including David Bakhtiari, Davante Adams, and Kenny Clark. It seems his work didn’t go unnoticed as the Cleveland Browns lured him to their front office with a promotion in 2016. He would help undertake the massive job of revitalizing arguably the worst team in NFL history.
The man has certainly done his part.
Through his first four years as an assistant scouting director, the Browns secured starters like Myles Garrett, J.C. Tretter, Jarvis Landry, Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Wyatt Teller, Olivier Vernon and Sheldon Richardson. This is what led to his promotion to VP of player personnel in 2020. That same year they added Jack Conklin, Jedrick Willis, and Donovan Peoples-Jones. The man has seen both sides of the coin, peak success in Green Bay and the bottom of the barrel in Cleveland.
This seems to have forged somebody ready to run his own team. At least he came across that way to Bears brass during his interview. The young executive made a positive impression according to Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog.
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(Only GM that’s interviewed so far who’ll be called back in – potentially – is Glenn Cook. Bears liked him a lot.)
— DaBearsBlog (@dabearsblog) January 14, 2022
Source: #Bears were impressed by #Browns VP of Player Personnel Glenn Cook, who interviewed for Chicago's GM opening on Wednesday. No call back yet, but they were impressed.
— Brad Stainbrook (@BrownsByBrad) January 14, 2022
This is something to monitor for sure. While he is far from guaranteed the job just yet, it seems Cook wasn’t intimidated by the idea of running the Chicago Bears. He would also be the first GM in franchise history to have a background working with their hated rival Packers. Perhaps a positive idea given how that team has dominated the division for almost 30 years now.
