The Chicago Bears constantly say their goal is to take down the Green Bay Packers. Their rival is the measuring stick in the division. It’s something the organization has become almost obsessed with. Yet for almost three decades, the Bears haven’t been able to do it. At least not for long. They’ve certainly hired multiple GMs to embark on that mission.
Here’s a question though.
If taking down the Packers is one of the primary goals for the Bears, why not bring in somebody who knows how they operate? Somebody with that Packers blueprint. It’s frankly surprising they haven’t tried this approach already at some point. They got Jerry Angelo from Tampa Bay. Phil Emery from Kansas City. Ryan Pace from New Orleans. One would think Green Bay, a franchise they know so well and has been more successful than those other organizations would interest them.
Especially when one considers the results whenever another organization has plucked from them.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Previous GMs with Packers connections:
John Schneider (GM of Seahawks)
Many view him as one of the best GMs in the NFL. Rightfully so. Schneider rebuilt the Seahawks with surprising speed in 2010. His first three drafts are the stuff of legends. Among the haul included Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, Bobby Wagner, and Russell Wilson. That incredible stretch set the stage for Seattle’s impressive march to a Super Bowl championship in 2013. Under Schneider’s direction, they’ve now made the playoffs nine times with two Super Bowl appearances and a Lombardi trophy.
John Dorsey (former GM of Chiefs/Browns)
Though criticized for his lackadaisical management style, nobody can dispute Dorsey pretty much set both the Chiefs and the Browns up for success. In Kansas City, he was the one who drafted the likes of Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Chris Jones, and Patrick Mahomes. Then in Cleveland, he drafted names like Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, Denzel Ward. He also traded for Jarvis Landry and Wyatt Teller. All of them became instrumental in getting the Browns to the playoffs for the first time in 18 years this season.
Reggie McKenzie (former GM of Raiders)
Looking back it feels like people owe McKenzie an apology. He actually did a lot more for the Raiders than people realize. Some really good players were drafted under his watch like Latavius Murray, Khalil Mack, Derek Carr, Gabe Jackson, and Amari Cooper. His direction got them to the playoffs in 2016 for the first time in 14 years. Unfortunately, ownership ran out of patience and hired Jon Gruden after 2017 ended in disappointment.
It’s apparent that teams who pluck from Green Bay tend to get a GM who understands how to find quality football talent. Particularly at the quarterback position. Russell Wilson? Patrick Mahomes? Derek Carr? All acquired by former Packers guys. Considering that organization has mastered the art of nailing the QB position. Maybe it’s time the Chicago Bears adopted their organizational approach.
Chicago Bears need to consider raiding Green Bay’s front office
It’s not like they lack for quality personnel men. Just look at how their team has played the past two years. A 26-6 record. An accomplishment the Bears haven’t sniffed for over a decade now. What sort of names should they be looking at? Start with John Wojciechowski. One of Green Bay’s two co-directors of player personnel under GM Brian Gutekunst.
He has experience working both the pro and college personnel sides. He was a scout for other prominent organizations like Dallas and Pittsburgh. Better still? The man played defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears from 1987 to 1993. So he has ties to the organization. It’s a perfect mix they could be looking for.
If not him, they could look at other co-director of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan. Many view him as the best of the two options. Somebody agents around the NFL believe will be a GM sooner than later. Gutekunst called him “indispensable” to the Packers front office.
“A guy that’s really gonna make a splash in the next few years. He just got elevated from director (of) college scouting two years ago to that role. … Personable guy, but also close to the vest, and smart about football. I think he’s the guy that I really think is going to be a future GM.”
The Chicago Bears have chased the Packers for ages. All to no avail. Maybe it’s time to bring somebody over from the other camp who understands how their vehicle runs.