If the Chicago Bears don’t get their coaching hire right this time, no one will be able to say they didn’t consider enough possibilities.
That was one of the questions for general manager Ryan Poles after he was hired three years ago. Working from a list of potential coaches who already had been interviewed and vetted by a search committee spearheaded by consultant Bill Polian and Chairman George McCaskey, Poles interviewed Jim Caldwell, Matt Eberflus and Dan Quinn within his first two days on the job.
Poles quickly selected Eberflus.
“When you know, you know,” Poles said on Jan. 31, 2002.
Here are six thoughts after Poles, McCaskey and President/CEO Kevin Warren spoke Tuesday morning for a combined 45 minutes.
1. The list of reported Bears coaching candidates is closing in on 15, and it sounds like it will grow.
The Bears have had six weeks to prepare for this moment and instead of whittling their list, they’ve expanded it.
“We’ve been in information-gathering mode,” Ryan Poles said, “looking at data research, making countless calls to make sure that we have everything we need to make a sound decision. We’re looking for clear vision, a developmental mindset, really good game management — and obviously a plan to develop a quarterback is going to be a key part of that as well.
“We’re going to cast a wide net. It’s going to be a diverse group. This will be different backgrounds from offense, defense, special teams, college, pro. We’re turning (over) every stone to make sure we’re doing this the right way. We believe that is going to be really, really important.
“There’s going to be some names that you don’t expect that are going to surprise you because we’re digging deeper than we ever have before. In terms of timing, we’re going to move with urgency, but we’re not going to rush the process.”
How big could this list become?
Chicago Bears coaching search: Who we know are candidates for the job
“I haven’t put a limit on it,” Poles said. “The restriction at some point is how much time you have. There’s a lot of rules that go along with setting your calendar up, so we want to make sure it’s not stressing us out to an extent where we’re not doing quality work. It absolutely needs to be quality, but I haven’t put a number on it.”
The rules for the interview process — the Bears can’t meet in person with a candidate who currently works for another NFL team until Jan. 20 — ensure this will be a protracted search. The design of the hiring process makes it sensible to gather as much intel as possible on a variety of candidates because the Bears will have time on their hands.
“These teams are so insulated and they’re in their own bubble,” one league source said. “Why not get insight into other buildings? You might as well get as much information as you can. You’d be stupid not to.”
With George McCaskey, Kevin Warren, senior director of player personnel Jeff King, director of football administration Matt Feinstein, special adviser/chief administrative officer Ted Crews and human resources director Liz Geist involved in initial interviews, the team ought to be able to gather a tremendous amount of information over the next two weeks, beginning Wednesday, when former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel reportedly will interview.
Poles said assistant GM Ian Cunningham will be involved when possible, but he’ll have latitude to prepare for potential promotions elsewhere.
Provided there’s enough time to digest all of the interviews, compare notes and organize thoughts for follow-up interviews with select candidates, the Bears should be able to gain momentum so that when they know this time, they really know.
“We’ve taken, shoot, the last month or so to prepare our process,” Poles said. “We’ve taken time to look back at the past processes to make sure we’re making changes and adjusting so that this is an absolute success.”
2. ‘Oh, my good god.’
That was the reaction of a high-ranking personnel man from a playoff team who texted me a clip of Kevin Warren responding to a question about his commitment to Ryan Poles.
“When we say long term, I mean, a year is a lifetime,” Poles said.
The Bears are on the radar of other teams, even ones in the postseason, as everyone is curious which direction the coaching search will take. That clip, which made its way around social media, caught the attention of multiple personnel men who sent it to me.
I’m won’t cherry-pick quotes, which can lead things to be taken out of context, so here’s the rest of Warren’s response after calling a year a lifetime.
“I know that’s important,” Warren said. “I know 2025 is important not only from a football standpoint, from a stadium standpoint, from an operations standpoint. Again, I trust Ryan. I trust the process that he has put together. I’m confident it will yield positive results.
“We will hire a world-class coach, whether it’s Thomas Brown or someone who currently does not work in our organization. We will get this right and I’m looking forward to it. I am so excited about being able to start these interviews, I haven’t been able to sleep the last couple nights.”
There’s a lot to dive into here because I disagree with the notion that a year is a lifetime, certainly not in the NFL for a team coming off a 5-12 season with a quarterback who will be entering Year 2 in the most competitive and rugged division in the league.
What’s clear is George McCaskey and Warren have empowered Poles to take the lead in the search process. He oversees football operations and they have confidence in him. For how long remains to be seen and is open to interpretation.
Poles was asked directly if he has received a contract extension.
“I’ve said from the day I was hired that I’m not going to get into my contract,” he replied. “I just think it’s a very personal thing in terms of how much I’m making and how long I’m making it.”
Poles wants to keep that matter of his employment private, and that’s understandable. He also can appreciate why it was a relevant topic in that setting and why it will be when meeting with coaching candidates, who will want to know about the power structure and status of those involved.
“The candidates we talk to, that will be something I can address with them,” he said.
McCaskey said the organizational flow chart remains unchanged at Halas Hall. The head coach reports to Poles. Poles reports to Warren. Warren reports to McCaskey. The Bears prefer a vertical structure, and that’s how it is laid out.
So what will Poles tell candidates about his situation, certainly a question you would expect, at least in a second interview.
“I’ll have that conversation with them,” he said. “And we’ll go from there.”
How much remaining runway Poles has is unclear, and it’s his prerogative to keep it that way. But is the idea legitimate that a coach’s timeline needs to match the GM’s?
“In the interviews that I have participated in, that has never been a factor,” McCaskey said. “No one has ever come in and said I’m not going to come here unless the general manager and I are on the same timeline. I don’t think that’s going to be a factor.”
Poles will have to be candid with someone he’s trying to hire, and when I wondered aloud during a chat with a personnel man for another team if Poles’ contract length could make the Bears undesirable, he went the other way.
“Not necessarily,” he said.
In fact, he said, it could make the job appealing. Take the job. Get to know Poles and his staff. Get a feeling for the dynamics in the building and see where the relationship goes. In the event it doesn’t work out, provided the coach remains on steady ground, he probably would have a strong say in the selection of the next GM.
“That’s pretty attractive, I think, to a high-level candidate,” the personnel man said.
One year isn’t a lifetime in the NFL, but it ought to be enough time for Poles and a new coach to put their shared vision to the test and see how they work together through the grind of a season.
Keep in mind, Poles reports to Warren, so the president/CEO will be the one making a decision on Poles’ future. Warren strongly backed Poles in December after Matt Eberflus was fired, and the proof is there: The GM is still on the job.
“I do want to address some of the things that I’ve heard about the relationship between Kevin and I that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Poles said. “We spend almost every single day together talking about solutions and (the) direction of where we want to be and where we’re going to go. I mean, it is so far from the truth. It was a little disappointing to hear that, to be honest.”
Warren said he didn’t want to speak in hypotheticals when asked how he would respond if a coveted coaching candidate wanted to bring his own GM with him. It’s probably useful to understand that while that happens on occasion in the NFL, there aren’t a ton of examples.
Jim Harbaugh had that sway with the Los Angeles Chargers last year. Sean McDermott was able to influence the hiring of Brandon Beane in Buffalo. John Lynch was chosen as GM after the San Francisco 49ers hired Kyle Shanahan. Pete Carroll picked John Schneider in Seattle. Bill O’Brien won a power struggle in Houston. Andy Reid, of course, had that cachet when he was hired in Kansas City. Matt Rhule and Chip Kelly had great power coming to the NFL from the college ranks.
But there aren’t a ton of situations in which a coach actually got to pick the GM, and it’s definitely a long shot here. If the Bears get the right coach and everything clicks — and that’s an incredible challenge in front of the organization — this won’t matter in the long run.
Right now, it matters. That doesn’t mean the situation is a deterrent.
3. If the Bears don’t wind up hiring Ben Johnson or Mike Vrabel, who’s the guy?
Titans coach Mike Vrabel watches from the sideline during a game against the Broncos on Nov. 16, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (Mark Humphrey/AP)
It’s an interesting question posed by one source I chatted with. He didn’t lean in any particular way, and neither did I. It would be a wide-open race at that point with the initial list large and possibly still growing.
I threw out the name of Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who is on the Bears list and was a teammate of Ryan Poles for one season at Boston College.
“I don’t think they can go defense if it’s not Vrabel,” the source said.
The New England Patriots could be moving fast on Vrabel. The team reported Tuesday it completed interviews with Byron Leftwich and former Bears quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton just two days after firing Jerod Mayo.
Provided those were in-person interviews, the Patriots could be clear to hire Vrabel (or anyone else) as soon as they want. The Rooney Rule mandates teams interview at least two external and minority candidates in person. Vrabel reportedly will interview with the Patriots on Thursday.
A couple of folks I chatted with agreed that a lot of teams will wind up doing much worse than hiring Mike McCarthy, the Dallas Cowboys coach, with whom the Bears have asked to meet. ESPN reported the Cowboys denied the Bears’ request. McCarthy’s contract expires Jan. 14, at which point he could meet with any team if the Cowboys don’t renew his deal.
McCarthy led the Cowboys to three consecutive 12-win seasons from 2021-23, brought out the best in quarterback Dak Prescott and was principal in developing a young Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. He might really like the idea of being able to battle the Packers twice a season.
“I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if it wound up being Arthur Smith,” the source said of the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator and former Atlanta Falcons coach. “He’s been a head coach. He’s resurrected Russell (Wilson) to a point, from where he was to where he is right now. He’s got a presence. He’s smart.”
The point is Johnson and Vrabel appear to be the chalk picks right now, and after that it’s wide open.
Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, whom Matt Eberflus tried to lure as quarterbacks coach in 2022, is an interesting candidate. The Bills offense, without great wide receivers, has been fantastic this season.
Todd Monken, a Wheaton native, has been at the controls of the Baltimore Ravens offense and helped elevate Lamar Jackson to a new level. He has been a college head coach at Southern Miss.
St. Rita and Northwestern graduate Mike Kafka has been a runner-up for three head coaching positions and is on the Bears list. The New York Giants have struggled, but Kafka helped develop Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City and has a relationship with Poles.
Vrabel finished his playing career in Kansas City in 2009-10, when Poles was beginning as a low-level scout. He has a strong personality, which might make some in the building a little nervous but potentially is what the Bears need. It just looks like the Patriots could be moving fast in an effort to land him.
4. Ryan Poles alluded to the Bears considering a coach with a special teams background.
The Bears have not sought permission to speak with Dave Toub, the Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator who had a distinguished run in Chicago in that position under Lovie Smith. If it’s not Richard Hightower, who held the Bears job for the last three seasons, folks in the special teams world figure they could be seeking to meet with Darren Rizzi.
Rizzi closed out the season as the New Orleans Saints interim head coach and has been considered one of the league’s better special teams coaches for a while. He had the title of assistant head coach in New Orleans and before that was an associate head coach for the Miami Dolphins.
Rizzi reportedly will interview for the Saints opening, and the New York Jets have requested an interview with him. The Saints originally interviewed Rizzi for the role in 2022 when they hired Dennis Allen.
An interesting nugget about Rizzi’s background: He was with the Dolphins for the entire time Ben Johnson was an assistant in Miami (2012-18).
5. George McCaskey would rather hear angry Bears fans voice their displeasure than listen to fans of visiting teams chanting at Soldier Field.
In the closing minutes of the ugly 6-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 26 at Soldier Field, there were loud chants throughout the stadium.
“SELL THE TEAM!”
Bears players heard it. Seahawks players talked about it afterward. McCaskey heard it.
“It’s understandable,” he said. “As Kevin (Warren) mentioned, our fans are passionate. They’re incredibly frustrated. They wanted to make their voices heard.
“I was more bothered by the week before when Lions fans tried to take over Soldier Field and force the home team to go to a silent snap count. Fortunately that didn’t happen. It’s understandable that Bears fans would sell their tickets because of the way the season has gone, and the challenge for us is to put a team on the field that Bears fans are so excited about that they’re not interested in selling their tickets.”
There were loud “JAR-ED GOFF!” chants during the Week 16 game against the Lions. I at least give McCaskey credit for recognizing fans would want to unload tickets late in the season. The product was rough to watch, especially in the cold.
6. If you’re looking for some type of breakthrough in the team’s bid to get a new stadium, sit back and wait until the spring. Maybe the summer.
Kevin Warren said a “massive amount of momentum” has been made in the Bears’ push to replace Soldier Field, but as far as any details on that forward progress, it will take some time.
“Downtown still remains the focus,” Warren said. “The Museum Campus. … I’ve been here 20 months and we’ve made great progress.
“But along those lines, we own 326 acres of beautiful land in Arlington Heights. It’s a fantastic piece of property. We were able to get the memorandum of understanding done there. So optionality does exist, but I’ll remain steadfast that the goal remains that we have shovels in the ground in 2025, and I’m confident that will happen.”
The clock is ticking on the Bears beginning construction before this year ends. The team reached an agreement in December with the Arlington Heights village board and surrounding school districts on a property tax deal. It set a 2027 deadline for the team to commit to building a stadium on the property before tax increases.
But Warren said his vision for a new stadium remains in the city.
It doesn’t actually seem like there has been much momentum toward a stadium deal, right?
“When you say, ‘It doesn’t seem like that,’ we have stadium meetings every single day,” Warren said. “From a political standpoint, from a business standpoint, these things are massive projects. I’ve been here before in Minnesota. This is not buying a house where you go and find it and you put a deposit down and then you close on a certain day. There are so many things that come together.
“I think that you’ll see, especially as we get into the spring and summer, you’ll start seeing some of this progress that I’m talking about now. I feel the momentum is really moving in the right direction, and from a stadium standpoint, we’re right exactly where I thought we would be.”
