One should never underestimate the value of having a talented quarterback. For the first time in a long time, it feels like the Chicago Bears are in that position with Justin Fields. The 11th overall pick has flashed lots of potential in recent weeks. Especially against San Francisco and Pittsburgh. The general feeling is the team has to get him away from Matt Nagy and into an environment that can cater to his needs. That will require a new head coach.
Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports recently wrote that several top candidates view the Bears job as the best of the bunch going into 2022. Mostly because of Fields. This leads to an interesting question. Could the presence of their young QB make the organization bolder in their pursuit of potential coaching options? Perhaps going after a head coach who may already be employed by a current team.
This is hardly anything unique in professional sports.
The Patriots swiped Bill Belichick from the Jets in 2000. Nick Saban departed Miami for Alabama. Coaches leaving situations they don’t like or are tired of for a new one is a common occurrence in football. Especially if they might have a quarterback waiting on the other side. Are there any names that might fit this description? Names that would be prominent scores in any coaching circuit?
One is Sean Payton. The longtime head coach of the New Orleans Saints has been surrounded by rumors of him leaving for a couple of years now. Ever since it was clear Drew Brees was approaching retirement. Now the Saints are 5-6, losers of four straight, have no quarterback, and face another brutal salary cap crunch in 2022. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he was seeking an exit door. Payton played for the Bears briefly in 1987 and also attended Easter Illinois. He could do some amazing things with Fields.
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Then there is Mike Tomlin.
The face of the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise since 2007, Tomlin has never had a losing season in his tenure there. However, that streak is in danger. After a blowout 41-10 loss to Cincinnati, the team is 5-5-1 on the season. Their offense is a mess and the defense can’t get stops. Many Steelers fans blame the head coach, feeling his conservative nature has cost them too many winnable games.
Would Pittsburgh finally part ways with him? He has been surrounded by rumors for some time, even being connected to the USC opening earlier this year. If an opportunity is there, the Bears have every reason to make inquiries. Tomlin has been a model of success for over a decade. His team made the playoffs nine times, reached three AFC championship games, two Super Bowls, and won the Lombardi trophy in 2008.
Justin Fields is worth spending the money
This is not a situation where the Bears should be passive and settle for one of the hot first-time names coming up the pipeline. They made that mistake with Nagy. Justin Fields is the type of talent that is worth every investment possible to make a success. That includes trying to secure a top-tier head coach. Considering how lacking George McCaskey is in identifying one, it would make all the more sense for him to make a push for someone that is already established.
Payton and Tomlin are two such options. They could also go exploring through some of the prominent head coaches in the college ranks as well. There is a virtual guarantee at least one of them would jump at the opportunity to coach Fields.
