A famous story about the previous Chicago Bears coaching search in 2022 has recently made the rounds. Everybody remembers how the organization had narrowed its list down to three candidates by the time GM Ryan Poles was hired. They were former Lions head coach Jim Caldwell, Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, and former Falcons head coach Dan Quinn. The story goes that the Bears flew Quinn in for his interview, but they only gave him a ticket in coach. It was such a blatant showing of disrespect. One that team president Kevin Warren seems determined to change.
The McCaskey family has been labeled cheap by fans and outside sources for decades. Stories like that do nothing to help their image. You're a billion-dollar organization and can't be bothered to show your potential next head coach proper first-class treatment? No wonder top candidates are always wary of this franchise. However, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN, there has been a massive shift behind the scenes at Halas Hall to ensure everybody gets only the best.
It feels every bit like a Warren move.
When the Chicago Bears fly in candidates for their head coaching search, they'd like to make the lasting impression of a first-class organization.
Part of that franchise facelift will mean not making the candidates fly in economy class, according to a team source. Some teams will send private planes for candidates to interview for coordinator jobs, but the Bears have been known to skimp, even for a head coaching position.
"That's going to be taken care of," a team source recently told ESPN. "If anyone comes in to interview and digs into how we do things, they're going to understand that this is a first-class organization."
Say what you will of Kevin Warren, but the man understands perception.
He carries himself like a politician, meaning your image is everything. How you're perceived can often mean the difference between winning and losing. This is something the Bears organization hasn't cared about for decades. They've leaned so much on their rich history that it's been easy to linger in old habits. One of them is not being afraid to be cheap at every possible turn. George Halas had that reputation throughout his life as owner. The McCaskeys have kept it alive in the years since his death.
Kevin Warren isn't having any of that. If the Bears want to be a first-class franchise, they need to start acting like it. Gestures like flying coaches in with top-shelf amenities are a given. Once an organization's perception improves, it becomes easier to lure the best of the best in, be they coaches or players. Warren has the common sense to understand this. The Bears have the money. They need to start spending it. Hopefully, the right impressions will be made over the next month.
