The NFL head coach carousel has become akin to free agency. Rumors tend to get out of control, pulling fans in one direction and then another. They aren’t sure who has the right information and who doesn’t. It can be exhausting after a while. Still, Chicago Bears fans know how important the next hire is for the franchise. If the organization nails it, they are set up for years of future success. As things stand, the widespread assumption among many in the media is that former Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is the favorite for the job.
He had an in-person interview earlier this week, and it seemed to go well, considering he stayed overnight. Many leaped to the conclusion that McCarthy is now the heavy favorite. Benjamin Allbright of KOA Colorado, who has some of the best inside information out there, put the kibosh on that during an appearance on the Irish Bears Show.
Mike McCarthy has much deeper roots down south.
Before ascending the mantle of eventual Super Bowl-winning head coach, he was an established offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints in the early 2000s. He helped them make the playoffs for the first time in eight years, produce two winning seasons, and a top-10 offense twice. His relationship with GM Mickey Loomis can’t be ignored. When Mike McCarthy became available in 2020, Sean Payton was still the head coach. That obstacle no longer remains. The Saints need somebody to help steady the ship as they look to retool the roster. While the job might not appeal to some, that isn’t the case for him. It’s in a much weaker division and a domed stadium where offenses benefit. Allbright seems to think there is more steam there than other outlets suggest. Chicago is still in the mix, but it might not be wise to hand him the job at this stage.
