Marc Trestman Denies Chicago Bears Head Coaching Rumor

The Chicago Bears head coaching rumor mill has been churning fast and furious since Fox analyst Jimmy Johnson tweeted this gem early Friday morning:

The media have been scrambling to substantiate Johnson’s tweet but no one from the Bears is biting, deferring comment.  Meanwhile some fans are taking it as a done deal, so much so that for a while on Friday morning, Trestman’s Wikipedia page showed him as Chicago Bears head coach.  It’s since been changed, but I was able to do a screen grab before it was taken down (click to enlarge):

Trestman sent an e-mail to the Montreal Gazette denying the reports:

"In an email sent to montrealgazette.com late Friday morning, Trestman denied Johnson’s report.  “I have not heard from the Bears and have responded in that manner on multiple levels. Thanks,” Trestman wrote."

Trestman fits a few of Emery’s criteria – excellence in what he does (2 Grey Cups), he’s a strong offensive mind with a good resume developing quarterbacks and his law degree would lead you to believe he’s very intelligent.  Some have called him “an offensive version of Dick Jauron.”  That doesn’t convince me he’ll command a room or will knock the media out, but he’s highly respected around the league.

Here’s my take for whatever it’s worth.  I think Trestman is one of the favorites and rightfully so.  I suspect Jimmy Johnson was being a little puffy chested and was probably out over his skis a bit by proclaiming Trestman to be landing the job.

Phil Emery was very clear in outlining his process and I don’t believe he’ll deviate from it.  He’ll complete the first round of interviews over the weekend and bring the finalists back to Halas Hall to meet with Ted Phillips and George McCaskey next week.

I was listening to Boers and Bernstein on 670 The Score yesterday and Terry indicated that his Bears guy suggested that “Emery had met ‘the guy,’ barring one of the last few candidates really blowing him out of the water.”   Does that mean Trestman?  Possibly.   I guess we’ll have to wait and see.