Ranking the Chicago Bears head coaching candidates being interviewed
Chicago Bears Coaching Candidate: Jim Caldwell, Former Lions HC
There is some speculation that the Chicago Bears wanting to interview Jim Caldwell is to see if Caldwell would want to come in as the offensive coordinator under Brian Flores. Caldwell was supposed to be the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach of the Dolphins in 2019, but health reasons kept him from the team. He stepped away from football as Brian Flores moved onto a different staff.
I’ve seen some unsubstantiated claims that Caldwell and Flores did not agree on many things and that had something to do with the situation. Seeing how Flores struggled with developing relationships with his staff, I wouldn’t be surprised by these rumors. That said, they are just rumors. At this point, I’d prefer to give Caldwell the gig over Flores even if Caldwell was the offensive coordinator.
Jim Caldwell has had a solid coaching record throughout his career. He was the Colts head coach from 2009 through 2011. He took over the team after Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy retired after the 2008 season. In his first two years, the team had a combined record of 24-8. In 2011, the Colts’ future shifted after Peyton Manning had neck surgery and was never the same quarterback again. The Colts finished 2-14 that season with Curtis Painter, Dan Orlovsky and Kerry Collins at quarterback.
It did not take long for Caldwell to land on his feet. He became the Ravens’ offensive coordinator in 2012 and held the job in 2013 when he helped Joe Flacco lead the Ravens to a Super Bowl victory. Caldwell earned a second head coaching gig as the Lions head coach in 2014. The Lions were the most relevant that they have been in decades under Jim Caldwell. Over his four-year tenure, the Lions’ combined record was 36-28. The team saw two playoff appearances and hasn’t been back since.
Caldwell would be an interesting choice, but he’s technically been away from football for quite some time. This is why he is only fourth in my rankings.