Over the past two weeks, Ben Johnson and Mike McCarthy have received most of the headlines regarding the Chicago Bears head coaching position. Both are considered likely finalists for the job. However, history says there are usually between four and six guys who get second interviews with a team before a decision is made. That means there could be as many as four more names who will make it to the second round. One of those is expected to be Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
It shouldn't be a surprise. He won two national championships with Georgia before taking over in Baltimore where he's engineered the two best seasons of Lamar Jackson's already stellar career. Any team should be interested. As it turns out, according to Albert Breer of the MMQB, the Bears have had an eye on him for months.
He wasn't the only one to mention something. Bill Zimmerman of Windy City Gridiron had some interesting comments. From what he's gathered, Monken is on their short list of serious candidates for the job. Much of this depends on how his interview went.
I have a hunch that Monken is going to do really well in the interview process and that, combined with the idea that I believe of the Bears' extensive list, Monken is on their short list of legitimate candidates that they are highly interested in.
Todd Monken is unquestionably the sleeper of this group.
He checks several boxes the Bears seem to prioritize. He's an offensive expert, having found success at both the college and NFL levels. His background is filled with tons of experience, including three years as a head coach at Southern Miss. Lastly, he's an Illinois native, having been born in Wheaton. So, he knows the area and its fanbase. Quarterbacks tend to excel under his direction, and he has learned from some excellent coaches during a long, productive career. Truth be told, it is hard to understand why he hasn't gotten the job before now.
No word has come out on how the interview went. Like most others, it was virtual. Chicago won't be able to speak with Todd Monken again until after January 20th. From there, it will depend on whether Baltimore is eliminated from the playoffs or plays in the Super Bowl. If he made a strong enough impression, Monken might be the one who can swoop in to take the job over the heavily favored Johnson and McCarthy. We know how much the Bears have loved pulling a swerve with these decisions in the past.
