Mike McCarthy May Have An Ulterior Motive For Seeking The Bears Job

The Chicago Bears requested an interview with Mike McCarthy when he was still employed by the Dallas Cowboys. It was denied. Jerry Jones sent a seemingly clear signal that he wished to keep the veteran head coach in silver and blue. A few days later, news broke that McCarthy would not be returning. He'd become a free agent. Just 24 hours later, he took a private jet to Chicago, where he met with team brass for several hours. It would appear he is already a finalist for the job.

It isn't hard to see why McCarthy would be interested. The Bears have a solid foundation with good players across the roster. Most importantly, they have a young quarterback in need of development. The head coach has a long track record of success on that front. However, there may be another reason he has eyes for the job. It is possible he sees it as an opportunity to claim something he's never really had before, which is significant roster control. Bill Zimmerman of Windy City Gridiron revealed how.

It centers around the fate of GM Ryan Poles.

McCarthy checks a lot of boxes the Bears are looking for. He’s an offensive-minded guy for Caleb Williams, he’s an experienced coach, and is he a leader of men? I think that can be questioned but he does have a history of winning which I don’t think the Bears will ignore.

The Saints are also quite interested in McCarthy as well, so it’s always possible that the Saints scoop in and land McCarthy as well. The two names that are rumored to be high on the Saints list are McCarthy and Aaron Glenn.

Also one other note about McCarthy, I think he would sign with the Bears and have no issue if the Bears don’t extend Ryan Poles.

Mike McCarthy might be playing the long game.

Some see Poles not getting a contract extension as a lack of stability. Others see it as a chance to bring in somebody more familiar after one season. McCarthy would undoubtedly have a say in that process, especially if he managed to produce a good first year in Chicago. Keep in mind throughout his 18 years as a head coach, he never had any definitive say in the makeup of his roster. In Green Bay, former GM Ted Thompson always has the final say. McCarthy was known to be frustrated with his stubborn refusal to be more active in free agency. Then, in Dallas, it was the same thing. Jerry Jones had the final say on roster decisions, and he never made aggressive moves, either.

Mike McCarthy must be thinking that if he can just wait Poles out, he can convince Kevin Warren to bring in somebody who will know how he wants the roster built—somebody willing to be aggressive when the situation calls for it. Every coach seeks the most power he can grasp. It appears McCarthy senses an opportunity in Chicago. The Bears have never given a head coach the final say on roster decisions, but he could skirt that by getting Poles replaced with a GM he's closer to.