Chicago Bears Reportedly Paying Close Attention To One Specific Playoff Game

The Chicago Bears might not be in the playoffs once again, but that doesn't mean they won't be paying close attention to them. Several of their potential head coaching candidates will be working over the next few weeks as they make a run for the Super Bowl. One thing that has become clear is that the team brass is aiming for one of two categories. The coach must either have a strong offensive background to help develop Caleb Williams or previous head coaching experience.

One name they've hoped to explore is Mike McCarthy, having asked for permission to speak with the Dallas Cowboys head coach. They were denied, though they may still get an opportunity if he has no new deal by January 14th. However, he isn't the only current head coach the Bears are monitoring. A source informed SM that higher-ups in the organization are paying careful attention to what happens in one of the key playoff games this weekend. It is the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the Baltimore Ravens.

The Chicago Bears are observing the Mike Tomlin situation.

Buzz has surrounded the Steelers head coach for the past few years as his inability to win a playoff game since 2016 becomes a greater talking point. He might be in more danger than ever before. Pittsburgh started 10-3 and looked like a Super Bowl favorite. Since then, they've lost four in a row, with the offense failing to crack 20 points in any of those games. If the Steelers fail to topple the Ravens, many feel it might finally be time for the organization to move on. Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette indicated the tension is very real.

The opinion among Steelers fans regarding head coach Mike Tomlin and his job status seems to be split.

There’s one group that believes Tomlin should lose his job if he can’t beat the Ravens on Saturday night at M&T Bank Stadium. And another that thinks he probably should’ve been fired into the sun long ago.

OK, that’s an exaggeration. I think. Tomlin certainly has his backers, though it’s a wild dynamic, one where he’s more popular outside of Pittsburgh than with locals.

But here’s something on which everyone can and should agree: There are no more excuses.

There is every reason to believe the Chicago Bears would pounce at the opportunity to land Tomlin. He's never had a losing season in his coaching career and won a Super Bowl in 2008. He's still only 52 years old and has direct ties to team president Kevin Warren. The two worked together in 2006 with the Minnesota Vikings. Tomlin embodies the exact traits Chicago is looking for in a head coach: tough, disciplined, holds players accountable, and a winner.

Will it happen?

Pittsburgh's ownership is notoriously stubborn about making changes at the head coach's position, so it's hard to imagine. Still, they may have no choice if outside pressure gets strong enough.