The Chicago Bears still haven’t hired a general manager or a head coach just yet. The team is up to 15 general manager candidates. Finding the correct GM will be necessary for the Chicago Bears’ success, but the next head coach will be vital for wins.
When talking about dynasties, the Chicago Bears haven’t been one because their quarterback failed (injured) in the 1980s. During a defensive and run-heavy league, the 1980s NFL was still dominated by quarterbacks. If you google the top NFL teams of the 1980s, these teams pop up:
- San Francisco 49ers
- New York Giants
- Washington Football team (formerly Redskins)
- Chicago Bears
A common trend you will see is a quarterback followed by a head coach. Joe Montana and Bill Walsh, Phill Sims and Bill Parcells, Joe Theismann and Joe Gibbs, Mike Ditka and Jim McMahon. Sure those teams had other stars that made them go, and only one had a hall of fame quarterback. However, those quarterbacks ran the offense that kept the defenses off the field and aided their teams to tough wins and Super Bowls.
I mean, as Chicago Bears fans, what changed about Walter Peyton and that defense? Minimal right? But the quarterback took that cheap shot, and things weren’t ever the same.
The Chicago Bears must hire a coach who will focus on Justin Fields’ strengths
Justin Fields doesn’t need to be a Hall of Fame talent to win in Chicago, but he needs to be good. To get him to that point in today’s NFL, Justin Fields will need a head coach who plays to his strengths. Watch his NFL published season highlights and take notes:
- First play, Redzone running ability and toughness
- Second play deep ball accuracy
- Third play quick play-action shot plays
- 1:97 minute mark tough deep throws
- 2:37 minute mark red zone tight window throws
I forgot who said it first, but many of us thought it. Justin Fields needs an offensive mind that doesn’t force him to read the field — instead, making tough throws. I believe it might have been Adam Jahns of The athletic. Fields and Mitch Trubisky were never Matt Nagy-styled guys. While I have been grateful that the Chicago Bears took Fields over Mac Jones and Kyle Trask, I knew he wasn’t a good fit for the Nagy offense.
The NFL is a different league from the 1980s, but the NFL for a long time has been quarterback-driven. If the Chicago Bears want to take that leap back to being a dynasty, they need to pair the correct head coach and keep the quarterback relatively healthy.
The Tennessee Titans are doing amazing things, and they have a defensive-minded coach. They are known as Derrick Henry’s team. Sometimes that works. Just try not to forget the difference between the 2018 and 2019 seasons. What changed? Henry still took over games, but Ryan Tannehill (talking to you, Tim Mootz) was the game-changer. Tannehill doesn’t have to throw for 5,000 yards to win, but he does have to play well for the offense to work.
If that doesn’t convince you, then maybe this 2021 season will. Henry played in eight games, and the Titans became the top seed in the AFC. What changed? Henry went down, but the quarterback remained the same. Tannehill and Mike Vrabel are still doing their thing. That is without a fully healthy Julio Jones and a 1,000-yard receiver.
I suppose the correct defensive coach could be sought out of the mix, but it’s likely easier with an offensive mind. My top choices are still Bryon Leftwich, Brian Daboll, and Nathaniel Hackett. I don’t care who they are coaching. Leftwich made Jamesis Winston a top passer in the league, and Hackett did the same for Blake Bortles. I suppose if I have to choose a defensive guy. I would choose Matt Eberflus.
Eberflus would likely come with an offensive coordinator Mike Groh (receivers coach Colts). Groh has been an offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles (2018-2019). He left to become the receiver’s coach with the Colts. The NFL is a weird circle, with Nick Sirianni taking over for coach Doug Pederson.
Before, Sirianni was the offensive coordinator for the Colts while ex-Eagles OC Frank Reich was head coach and Groh was receivers coach. Weird. Before I get onto another tangent, Justin Fields would likely thrive with any of those coaching options. The question is, will the Chicago Bears choose them?