If there's one thing we've learned about the Chicago Bears over the past 30 years, it's that they've developed a taste for throwing curveballs when hiring new head coaches. It was Dick Jauron in 1999. In 2013, it was Marc Trestman, then John Fox in 2015, Matt Nagy in 2018, and Matt Eberflus in 2022. Every time, those names were nowhere near the top of the list of acclaimed options. This trend has led many to believe the franchise will find a way to do it again. The only uncertainty is finding out who it will be.
Bill Zimmerman of the Windy City Gridiron has strong sources in the league. He gave his list of coaching names he sees as the most likely Bears targets, including one who might be the exact dark horse they've become known for over the years.
Josh McCown would be a wild Chicago Bears shot in the dark.
Fans remember him for his unforgettable 2013 season when he stepped in for the injured Jay Cutler, throwing 13 touchdowns and only one interception while almost getting them to the playoffs. McCown spent 18 years in the NFL as a quarterback, playing with 12 different teams. Teammates adored him. There is one problem. He has very limited coaching experience. He spent some years later in his career as an assistant coach for two high school programs. Out of nowhere, the Houston Texans interviewed him for the head coaching job in 2021 and 2022. The belief was he had it in hand the second time before Brian Flores' lawsuit against the Dolphins over racial discrimination spooked the team into hiring Lovie Smith instead.
McCown would've been the second person in NFL history to go straight from player to head coach.
The other was Norm Van Brocklin. McCown has spent the past two seasons as a quarterbacks coach in Carolina and now Minnesota. He's played an integral role in the revival of Sam Darnold. The former 1st round bust is on pace for the highest completion percentage, touchdowns, and passer rating of his career. Still, handing McCown control of a franchise with so little high-level coaching experience feels reckless for the Chicago Bears.
Van Brocklin went 66-100. Jeff Saturday, who never coached in his life prior to midway through 2022, went 1-7. Jim Dooley was the most inexperienced coach in Bears history (six years) before getting the job. He went 20-36. The last time a position coach was hired straight to head coach with no coordinator experience was Mike Munchak in 2011. People may argue it was Jim Caldwell in 2014, but he'd been an assistant head coach for years. Munchak was purely an offensive line coach before that. He went 22-26.
It is hard to make any case that McCown would be ready for such an opportunity.
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