When talking about the Chicago Bears' head coaching vacancy, there are names every fan has come to expect to be mentioned. Those names include Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Washington Commanders' offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, and Minnesota Vikings' defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
While Johnson has the profile to make him the best fit for what the Bears need in their next head coach, there continue to be suggestions that Ryan Poles being in place as the team's general manager could be what pushes the Lions' offensive coordinator toward the expected Jacksonville Jaguars' opening.
The latest from Diana Russini of The Athletic confirms that Poles is, in fact, the one leading the Bears' search for a new head coach and the direction the general manager may be taking the team seems awfully familiar to the one they embarked on following the 2021 season.
Russini reports that Miami Dolphins' defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver has emerged as a candidate for the Bears' opening.
"GM Ryan Poles has been doing serious homework on these candidates, particularly Weaver," Russini writes.
The idea that Poles is doing serious vetting of Weaver will not help the speculation that the Bears' general manager is trying to steer the search away from Johnson given the implication that may have on his job security. While Weaver had been in consideration for the Washington Commanders' head coach opening last offseason, he certainly as at the floor in terms of candidates for the Bears' opening this offseason. A potential first-time head coach, Weaver would likely have no reservations about Poles being his general manager moving forward.
It may be lazy to categorize a potential hire of Weaver in the same bucket as the hire of Matt Eberflus but the base to that argument is embedded in his candidacy--perceived leader of men who doubles as defensive-minded head coach. The Bears were wrong in that assessment of Eberflus.
Weaver being a serious candidate for the Bears should tell Kevin Warren all he needs to know about the merits of keeping Poles as a general manager, it wouldn't be the right decision. There is nothing about Poles' vetting of personnel moves during his time as Bears' general manager that would suggest he is going to get this hire right.