The Chicago Bears hope to finally end their drought at head coach this time. They sit at 0-4 since firing Lovie Smith in 2013. George McCaskey is hitless so far in his time as team chairman, and fans are getting more and more vocal about his family’s ownership of the team. He desperately needs to find somebody who can win. The problem is people can’t seem to agree on what precisely the Bears need. Some believe an offensive innovator is necessary to maximize Caleb Williams. Others hope for a no-nonsense, gritty disciplinarian like Mike Tomlin or the recently hired Mike Vrabel.
In truth, the coach’s background doesn’t matter. Offense? Defense? Special teams? Each of those types of coaches has succeeded and failed at the top job. An NFL general manager spoke to Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune about what the Bears should be looking for. It comes down to finding that guy with the resilience and charisma to maintain a stable locker room when things are tough.
Anybody can coach when the wins happen. Can they communicate in crisis situations?
“You’re looking for someone who can lead your entire organization,” the GM said, “and someone who can truly keep everything and everyone on track when things get rough. That’s a big deal and a bigger deal than we all probably realize. Anyone can coach when things are rolling.”
Added another league source: “Find yourself someone who is a top-tier communicator, someone who motivates, someone who meets players where they are and has a knack for saying the right things at the right time. But don’t get that confused either. Leaders of men don’t have to be loud and (macho). You just need to be in control. You need to offer discipline and prove you care and connect in a way where your players are willing to maximize their talents for you.”
The Chicago Bears had this with Lovie Smith.
People forget that he was never the rah-rah type of coach. He never came across as loud or boisterous. However, he was calm and steady and always knew how to convey his message to his players. It is why they loved him and always played hard for him. That is what the Bears need to find. It doesn’t have to be Smith’s exact personality, just a coach who can connect like he could. Find a guy who always seems to be steady under pressure. You can usually find that by digging into track records and finding the ones who excel at multiple stops or in big games.
They haven’t really done that with any of their recent hires. Matt Nagy famously went ice-cold in the playoffs before coming to Chicago. John Fox was famous for losing Super Bowls. Matt Eberflus’ defense folded in multiple big games during his stint in Indianapolis. The Chicago Bears haven’t gone after somebody who is at his best when it matters. Once they finally do, it might result in the breakthrough they’ve been searching for. It’s good advice. Whether they heed it remains to be seen.
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