Did another head coaching candidate emerge for the Chicago Bears?
Would the Chicago Bears bring in a college coach?
When we look back through the history of the Chicago Bears, we will not find that the team ever hired a head coach straight from the college ranks. This does not mean that the team hasn’t had their share of coaches from other paths.
Marc Trestman was hired in 2013 after he led the Montreal Alouettes to two CFL (Canadian Football League) Grey Cup Championships in 2009 and 2010. Jack Pardee was hired in 1974 after coaching the Florida Blazers through a fairly successful season in the WFL (World Football League).
Now, plenty of prior college football coaches have struggled when making the leap to the NFL. There is definitely a big difference between coaching established players in the NFL who are making millions and recruiting teenagers who are hoping to make that next step. That has not stopped a few college coaches who made the jump from succeeding.
Tom Coughlin went from building up the Boston College program to becoming the first head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coughlin made it as far as the AFC Championship game while with Jacksonville. He moved on to coach the New York Giants and win two Super Bowls — both wins coming over Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. Could the Chicago Bears find the next Coughlin?
Jim Harbaugh is another name to be thrown around in this category. He improved the Univesity of San Diego before turning Stanford around and then took the head coaching gig with the San Francisco 49ers.
He led the 49ers to three consecutive NFC Championships and a Super Bowl loss to his brother and the Ravens. Harbaugh is now back in the college ranks, helping his Alma Mater, the Michigan Wolverenes win their 43rd Big Ten Championship. He too could be a head coaching candidate for the Chicago Bears.
A few other names are Dick Vermeil and Pete Carroll. Now Kliff Kingsbury is doing things in Arizona. With Brian Kelly and Lincoln Riley no longer options, should the Chicago Bears look into this college coach as a potential option?