Amid a losing season that's featured plenty of headlines and movement, the Chicago Bears are in a familiar position: they have a head coaching vacancy.
Fans are used to this "wash, rinse, repeat" type of situation in Chicago. But, this one is different. This situation is one where the Bears actually have their franchise quarterback. For the first time, maybe ever, the Bears have a true franchise quarterback who may go on to set every record possible for the organization.
Caleb Williams was brought to Chicago as the league's best quarterback prospect in quite some time, but Matt Eberflus and his staff weren't the right ones to help develop him.
Now, with Eberflus out and arguably the most attractive opening in the NFL residing in Chicago, the Bears need to get this hire right. Will Ryan Poles be here to see the decision made, and if he is, how much pull will he really have? Those are some burning questions going on at the moment.
More Bears news:
Aside from some of the top candidates Chicago will likely be interested in, there's also the potential of trading for a head coach. It doesn't happen often, but it's possible.
On the most recent episode of the MMQB Podcast, NFL insider Albert Breer tossed out an idea that actually might make some sense.
Albert Breer thinks the Bears should call Cleveland about a Kevin Stefanski trade
Breer and his co-host, Conor Orr, discussed the Cleveland Browns' current situation and noted how handcuffed Kevin Stefanski and company are at the moment, simply because of Deshaun Watson's contract. If Stefanski doesn't want to hang around for what will not be a quick fix, he could always chat with the organization about sending him elsewhere.
"From the Bears' (perspective),do you make that call? Yeah, if I'm the Bears I make that call ... I would 100 percent make that call," Breer said.
"Kevin checks a lot of boxes for them. He can be the adult in the room, he can be a program leader, he's an offensive coach. I do think that the Bears will be looking for a leader above just a quarterbacks guy, but Kevin's one of the guys that can check both boxes," he finished.
In Cleveland, Stefanski has a huge question mark under center. In Chicago, he'd have what some have called a generational talent to help develop. The difference is a stark one, and Stefanski has a proven record of being a leader and a smart, offensive mind.
Would the Bears be willing to give up draft capital, though, especially when candidates like Mike Vrabel and Ben Johnson will be out there as well?