I recently asked my WCG and 2nd City Gridiron teammates four questions about the Chicago Bears’ ongoing head coaching search.
We got the obvious one out of the way first: Who is the one candidate that you’d be 100% pleased with the Bears hiring?
Yesterday, we all gave our number two choice if Ben Johnson doesn’t get the gig.
Today, I asked them to give the guy they do not want the Bears to hire no matter what. Or, as I put it in the email, Who is your — OMG, I can’t believe they hired this guy; now I have to question my Bears fandom — choice?
Jeff Berckes: I will have a bonfire to throw in my Bears paraphernalia if the Chicago Bears hire Matt Campbell. No offense to Matt Campbell; he’s a great coach, but I have expensive pieces of paper from the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Iowa. Hiring the Iowa State coach would probably kill me.
Mongo Peanut: As an Iowa State Cyclone, I resent Jeff’s answer about Matt Campbell – he knows a thing or two about culture building! Have an open mind, Jeff! With that said, Ron Rivera would really test my Bears fandom. I understand that he is a former Bear, a well-liked guy, and has had some success historically, but Rivera would signal a result that suggests that the Bears haven’t changed an ounce. If they are intent on hiring a coach with experience, I would much rather get an offensive mind like Carroll or McCarthy, despite having reservations. I am tired of having defensive coaches who run vanilla zone coverage schemes. Full stop.
Ryan Droste: Probably over half the list? Seriously. That said, I’d have to go with Matt Campbell. I don’t understand the interview. He’s turned around Iowa State’s program from being irrelevant to somewhat relevant during his time there. That’s about it. I don’t see him as a hot commodity, and we know the track record of Iowa State coaches in Chicago. Probably the most head-scratching interview request I’ve seen.
Mason West: There are a lot of answers here, but the biggest would be anyone from college. We just haven’t seen that work consistently. For every Jim Harbaugh, there is a Kliff Kingsberry, Nick Saban, or Steve Spurrier.
Sam Householder: Any of the candidates that aren’t on other teams’ lists. Anthony Weaver, Drew Petzig, Marcus Freeman. What are we doing here? Now is not the time for getting cute, getting clever, or thinking you’re smarter than the rest of the league.
Jacob Infante: Adam Stenavich, the Packers’ offensive coordinator. Not only does he not have previous NFL head coaching experience, but he isn’t an offensive play caller even. If you’re getting a first-time head coach, it should be someone who has at least proven they can manage a game at the highest level.
TJ Starman: I am tempted to say Arthur Smith after what we we saw from the Steelers offense down the stretch this season, coupled with his miserable head coaching record in Atlanta, however, I was then reminded of the Bears’ reported interest in Vance Joseph. That move would just feel like the stinkiest, “Bears-iest” move they could muster and I would probably be physically sick to see a defensive-minded, retread HC with a HORRID 11-21 record in Denver brought in to oversee Caleb Williams on his rookie contract.
Erik Duerrwaechter: Mike McCarthy would come close to that kind of hire for me. He’s on my “hell no” list due to simply getting stuck in the mud and never learning from their mistakes. If you want a coach who gets you just a notch above mediocrity, go for it. I don’t care that he’s won a Super Bowl; he hasn’t done squat since then. And no coach has ever won the Super Bowl for two franchises as a head coach. Give me someone who’s got an unlimited ceiling. Not the highest floor, as what the Bears have resorted to doing for so many years.
Bryan Orenchuk: Anthony Weaver. Nothing against the man, but this would feel just like the Flus hiring years ago. I personally feel Weaver coached a more overrated Ravens D than Flus’ Colts years back. Not to mention we don’t need another defensive mind leading our team.
Josh Sunderbruch: Brian Flores, full stop. Not only is he a defensive coach, but this is a guy who was so terrible that he made Tua Tagovailoa dislike playing football. To be clear, if a Pro Bowl quarterback is okay with the prospect of lifelong brain damage but not okay with you, then maybe you’re the problem.
Bill Zimmerman: Brian Flores. I can’t get past how poorly he worked with Tua in Miami. He is the exact wrong guy to work with a young QB. Spare me with the culture-building stuff; he is the type of guy to wreck a young QB.
Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.: I’m with Bill and Josh. Flores would be the wrong coach for the Bears. Flores may have grown and rehabbed his image, but nah…
Taylor Doll: Honestly, there are several of these for me in this search. I am not big on any of the defensive-minded guys outside of Vrabel, and now that he is gone, it leaves none I trust to lead the team and hire the right guy to be OC. I also am not big on Pete Carroll. He’s been a great coach and a big part of QB development in both college and NFL, but I don’t want a 73-year-old coach who may have to move on in a few years. Whoever we bring in, I want it to be a guy who can be here for 10+ years and build something stable.
Aaron Leming: About half their list could qualify for that category… Mike Kafka, Anthony Weaver, Drew Petzing, Arthur Smith, David Shaw, and Ron Rivera would all fall into this category for me. Don’t get cute. Just make the best hire.