Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
4. Top Candidates Out
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The list of head coaching candidates isn’t exactly wowing me. I think that has a lot to do with some of the top candidates getting crossed off the list for one reason or another.
Jim Harbaugh decided to go back to school and head to his alma mater Michigan rather than stay in the NFL. I think a lot of Bears fans were hoping Harbaugh would bring his fiery persona and winning ways back to Chicago where he once quarterbacked the Bears.
Another name conspicuously absent from all of the Bears coaching candidate lists that are floating around is Rex Ryan. Ryan had his struggles with the Jets the last couple of years, but they were about as devoid of talent as the Bears. Ryan has a big personality that would probably clash with the McCaskeys, but maybe that’s just what’s needed? His ties to Chicago as a former ball boy when his dad Buddy created the 46 defense that the ’85 Bears rode to the Super Bowl certainly had his atop many wish lists.
Another top candidate that won’t be making his way to Chicago is Bill Cowher. Cowher removed his name from consideration on Friday, citing his happiness as an analyst with CBS as a reason to stay away from the sidelines. Cowher had a lot of success with the Steelers and has been on many wish lists since he left the Pittsburgh sidelines. His personality would seem to be an ideal fit for the Bears and his experience working for the Rooney family would be valuable working for another family business.