The Chicago Bears cannot bring Matt Nagy back in 2022. He has a year left on his contract, but this franchise cannot continue to trust that Nagy is the answer. At least, that is what we are all hoping for at this point. Deep down, most of us know that we cannot fall into a false sense of hope until we know for sure it is going to happen. This team has proven over and over again just how poor they are at making decisions. Would it really shock anyone if Nagy is still around in 2022?
Now that we have that out of the way, let us continue on the assumption that the organization has indeed made a decision regarding Matt Nagy’s future and he will not be coaching this team next season. There have already been rumors that the team has been doing their due diligence regarding potential head coaching replacements. The big question is who has been doing the due diligence? Can we expect Ryan Pace to stick around if Matt Nagy is fired? The answer should be no.
The Chicago Bears must replace Matt Nagy in 2022
The problem is, that it appears that Ryan Pace is in deep with the organization. Some like to say that he’s the son that Ted Phillips and George McCaskey never had. Is he indeed safe within the franchise or is he too on a short leash and headed out the door? Just like Nagy, only time will tell, but if I had to bet money on it, I’d say Nagy is gone before Pace. That said, I do hope they move on from Pace, whether that means letting him go or hiring him to a different position.
What’s strange though is why would the team be looking at new head coaches while not expressing any rumored interest in a new general manager? Maybe there is some truth to Pace not being let go or the fan fiction idea (I agree with by the way) of moving Ryan Pace into a role that oversees football operations. This could mean a completely new general manager takes over, or maybe they promote Anthony “Champ” Kelly into Pace’s general manager position.
No matter what happens over the next couple of weeks or months, one thing is true — it appears that two potential head coaching candidates are now off the table for this team.
Lincoln Riley will no longer be an option for the Chicago Bears
Just like that, the Chicago Bears have lost not one, but two potential options to replace Matt Nagy in 2022. Let me preface this by saying, I am not sure if Lincoln Riley was on the Bears shortlist as they plan for next year. That said, at this point, Riley should have at least been considered.
Lincoln Riley is now the former head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners. He took over the program and turned it into a dominant force. The Oklahoma offense was his bread and butter as he helped lead the team to a 55-10 record over his five-year career at the school. Where he has struggled is during Bowl games. He has a record of 1-3 during his career here — not so great, but good enough for the USC Trojans to pull him away.
The Trojans might be interested in bringing in a coach that has helped turn the Sooners into a juggernaut of an offense and developed five All-Americans. One of those included the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft — Baker Mayfield. 2018 was also the year that Riley won the Big-12 Coach of the Year award. Other big names that have come from his program include:
- Ceedee Lamb (2019)
- Jalen Hurts (2019)
- Kyler Murray (2018)
- Ben Powers (2018)
- Mark Andrews (2017)
- Orlando Brown (2017)
With Lincoln Riley switching from Oklahoma to coach in Southern California, obviously, he is not going to be interested in a Chicago Bears coaching vacancy if one opens up as expected. The team may not have been interested, but watching what he has done with Baker Mayfield, Jalen Hurts and Kyler Murray, you’d have to think he would work well with Justin Fields as well. Too bad he will never even be considered.
Brian Kelly will no longer be an option for the Chicago Bears
Another college coach is on the move and another college coach is no longer going to be a potential candidate to replace Matt Nagy in 2022. I will admit, Lincoln Riley was in my notable mentions for potential head coaches the Chicago Bears should consider. Brian Kelly on the other hand never made it. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t on others’ lists as a potential NFL head coaching candidate. Let’s take a look at what he has done over the last few years.
Brian Kelly has been the head coach of Notre Dame for 12 seasons. He first came on in 2010 and has helped turn the Irish into a respectable football program once again. During his tenure, the Irish have won 10+ games in seven seasons — including the last five consecutive seasons. During that time, Kelly also led the Irish to two College Football Playoffs.
Kelly’s success does not stop there though. He made his way to Notre Dame by having serious success at his prior two schools. While coaching at Cincinnati, Kelly led the Bearcats to three consecutive 10+ seasons. While at Central Michigan, he went from winning only four games in his first season to winning eight games his final year. He has shown success in multiple areas and I’m not surprised that the LSU Tigers wanted him to take over their program.
Again, I am not sold that Brian Kelly would make a good NFL head coach, but I think it’s important to note that you can make a case for nearly any high-profile college head coach as a potential NFL head coach. The same could be said for many of the top coordinators within the NFL. Although I don’t think Kelly would do well, it doesn’t mean that I am about to bash anyone who can give a valid reason for him being a candidate — although, that can no longer be the case with Brian Kelly heading to coach LSU.