If the season plays out as expected, Matt Eberflus will become the fifth head coach fired by the Chicago Bears in the past 13 years. People looking for reasons why this team has only two winning seasons in that time can start there. Lacking leadership at the top always results in constant losing. It's not like the organization is unaware of this. They've tried multiple different ways to fix the problem. There were Canadian League guys (Marc Trestman), Super Bowl participants (John Fox), a fabled Andy Reid disciple, and a supposed Lovie Smith clone (Eberlfus).
Nothing has worked. Fans have lost faith that George McCaskey, Kevin Warren, and Ryan Poles (presuming he survives) have the expertise to find the right coach. It might explain why they're considering a rare but proven course of action. A source informed SM that the team has sent out feelers to see if a proven coach might be available for trade.
The Chicago Bears have valid evidence to try this way.
Teams generally don't give away proven head coaches. However, it has happened a handful of times over the past three decades. What stands out the most about it is how consistently successful such moves have been. Since 1997, seven head coaches have been traded to other teams. Here is the outcome for all of them.
Bill Parcells traded to Jets in 1997 for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round picks
- Went 29-19 in three years
- Reached the AFC championship game in 1998
Mike Holmgren traded to Seahawks for 2nd round pick
- Went 86-74 in ten years
- Reached the Super Bowl in 2005
- Seven winning seasons and five playoff trips
Bill Belichick traded to Patriots for 1st, 4th, and 7th round picks
- 266-121 in 24 years
- Won six Super Bowls
- Twenty winning seasons and 18 playoff trips
Jon Gruden traded to Bucs for two 1st and two 2nd round picks
- 57-55 in seven years
- Won Super Bowl in 2002
- Four winning seasons and three playoff trips
Herm Edwards traded to Chiefs for 4th round pick
- 15-33 in three seasons
- Made the playoffs in 2006
Bruce Arians traded to Bucs for 6th and 7th round picks
- 31-18 in three seasons
- Won the Super Bowl in 2020
- Two winning seasons and two playoff trips
Sean Payton traded to Broncos for 1st and 2nd round picks
- 14-14 record so far
- Has Bo Nix in Rookie of the Year conversation
Every single one of those coaches led their new teams to at least one winning season. Five made at least one deep playoff run, and three won a Super Bowl. The Chicago Bears have good reasons to consider this course. They have a young quarterback ready to take steps toward stardom and a talented roster capable of winning. All they need is somebody who can maximize its potential. They also have the draft currency necessary to make an aggressive trade. The only question is whether a proven coach is available.
Looking at the landscape, three names feel at least possible. Kyle Shanahan is enduring a brutal 2024 season after narrowly losing the Super Bowl last year. Some are starting to wonder if he's lost his edge. Whispers about Sean McVay's future in Los Angeles have bubbled up for a couple of years. Matthew Stafford is getting older, and the coach may not wish to stick around for a rebuild. Lastly, there is Kevin Stefanski. He suffered an ugly loss in the playoffs last season and is now 2-8 with the Cleveland Browns. With whispers of Mike Vrabel threatening his job, he may want out. Kevin Warren has ties to him from Minnesota, too.
It would be out of character for the Bears to do this, but the fact they're even considering it says a lot.
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