The
Chicago Bears are six games away from some potentially big decisions to make. None bigger than the fate of head coach Matt Nagy. After a brilliant start to his tenure in 2018, things have gone steadily downhill since. His offense, billed as a solution to this team's constant problems, has not only underperformed but sunk to being one of the worst in the NFL.
Now after a 5-1 start to the season, the Bears are 5-5 and clinging to their playoff hopes by their fingernails. Fittingly the Green Bay Packers are up next. The general belief is if Nagy can't deliver in this game, his future in Chicago is all but sealed. That would push him to 1-4 against the Bears' bitter rivals and his record the past two years to 13-14.
A clear indication they're going in the wrong direction. So if the organization decides to make a
change, who could step into Nagy's spot. Here are the five guys they need to consider.
Best Chicago Bears replacement options if Matt Nagy falls
#1 - Brandon Staley (Defensive coordinator, Los Angeles Rams)
- Age: 37
- NFL experience: 4 years
- Bears connection: Yes
- Notable mentors: Vic Fangio and Sean McVay
Staley was a nobody when he arrived in Chicago back in 2017 as outside linebackers coach. Vic Fangio hired him out of John Carroll University of all places based on his growing reputation as a sharp defensive mind. In his two seasons with the team, his influence was clearly felt.
Khalil Mack had 12.5 sacks in 2018 while
Leonard Floyd had five sacks over the final nine games of that season. Probably the best stretch of his career with the Bears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmdaZSWe77k&ab_channel=WeeklySpiral
After a brief stint in Denver last year, the Los Angeles Rams made him their new defensive coordinator. Despite a huge overhaul of the personnel, Staley took a defense that ranked 13th last season and
made them the #1 overall unit through 10 games in 2020. That is impressive stuff considering it's his first year as a coordinator at any major level. Players seem to love him and his football intelligence is off the charts.
#2 - Joe Brady (Offensive coordinator, Carolina Panthers)
- Age: 31
- NFL experience: 3 years
- Bears connection: None
- Notable mentors: Sean Payton and Matt Rhule
Another young coach who was nothing more than a low-level assistant back in 2017 for the New Orleans Saints. Two years later he was made offensive coordinator at LSU. What followed as a record-breaking offensive outburst that saw the team average 568 yards per game and score less than 42 points just three times in 15 games. Joe Burrow threw 60 touchdown passes, won the Heisman Trophy, and led the program to a national championship.
Brady quickly earned a job as offensive coordinator in Carolina where he's helped Teddy Bridgewater revitalize his career. The former 1st round pick has a 98.7 passer rating in 10 starts.
Mike Davis, whom the Chicago Bears could get nothing out of last year, has compiled 754 yards from scrimmage and scored five touchdowns. This young coach is becoming impossible to ignore.
#3 - Arthur Smith (Offensive coordinator, Tennessee Titans)
- Age: 38
- NFL experience: 10 years
- Bears connection: None
- Notable mentors: Joe Gibbs and Mike Vrabel
Smith climbed his way up the ladder steadily since 2011. The fact he was able to survive multiple regime changes in Tennessee over that span is typically a good sign that he knows what he's doing. Time has proven that correct. The Titans' offense was a mess when he took it over in 2019. Under his direction they jumped to 10th in points scored his first year. All while revitalizing the career of quarterback Ryan Tannehill whom many thought was a bust.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvKSCgyKS1M&ab_channel=NFL
Tannehill's career passer rating before joining Smith in Tennessee was 87.0. In the 20 games they've been together since? That has jumped to an incredible 111.8. Easily one of the greatest career turnarounds in NFL history. Smith has also established a dominant rushing attack around Derrick Henry, so it's not just about QBs with him. The guy is the son of the found of FedEx, so money isn't his motivation. It's about respect and love for the game, which is a good thing.
#4 - Matt Eberflus (Defensive coordinator, Indianapolis Colts)
- Age: 50
- NFL experience: 11 years
- Bears connection: None
- Notable mentors: Gary Pinkel and Frank Reich
Eberflus first cut his teeth as defensive coordinator at Missouri in the 2000s. Not only did his defenses perform well thanks to his tactical prowess as a play-caller, he also had a reputation for recruiting good players. When he finally made the move to the NFL it was as a linebackers coach in Cleveland. That title would stick with him when he then went to Dallas in 2011 and stayed there until 2017.
During that span, he molded some really good players including DeMarcus Ware, Sean Lee, Anthony Spencer, Anthony Hitchens, and Jaylon Smith. Now he's the defensive coordinator in Indianapolis and his defense has ranked top 10 in points allowed twice in three seasons. It's clear the man has produced results wherever he's been. That is often the biggest tell of a good coach.
#5 - Jim Leonhard (Defensive coordinator, Wisconsin)
- Age: 38
- NFL experience: 10 years (as a player)
- Bears connection: None
- Notable mentors: John Harbaugh and Rex Ryan
Rex Ryan called Leonhard one of the smartest players he ever coached in the NFL. That's pretty high praise considering some of the legends he was around. The former safety never had the greatest physical talent in the world, but his mastery of the game was evident quite often. Nothing ever seemed to slip past him. He was ready for everything. That is how he was able to last 10 seasons in the league.
Since transitioning to coaching? Things have only showcased that even further. Since taking over as defensive coordinator at Wisconsin in 2017, his units have ranked 3rd, 35th, 10th, and 3rd in the country. Normally it's unheard of for a college coordinator to go straight to head coach in the NFL. However, Leonhard is a rare exception thanks to his extensive experience in the league as a player.
The Chicago Bears would fit his mentality quite well.
