Non-Coordinator Assistants Who Must Be On Chicago Bears' Head Coach List

One of the common beliefs among NFL fans is that in order to become a head coach, somebody must first be a coordinator. That is just how it goes in football. Yet the truth is actually somewhat different. There are plenty of examples throughout history of coaches bypassing the coordinator job to become a head coach. Tom Coughlin was never a coordinator. The same goes for Andy Reid and John Harbaugh. This is something the Chicago Bears have to keep in mind. While the focus of every head coaching cycle is on who the hot coordinators are, the reality is the NFL is filled with plenty of good coaches that don't hold that title. Guys who are natural leaders and possess the necessary traits to command a locker room. Being a coordinator can be a valuable step towards the job, but hardly a necessary one. So it's time to explore such possibilities. Coaches that aren't coordinators but the Bears should still seek to interview for the top job.

Chicago Bears head coach list must include these names

Jerod Mayo (ILBs coach, New England Patriots) One thing about Bill Belichick is he always knew how to find outstanding leaders for his defense over the years. It started with Mike Vrabel in New England before shifting over to Mayo later on. Vrabel is now a top head coach in the league. Mayo is thriving as an assistant on the Patriots staff. His leadership qualities have long earned respect around the league. They come naturally to him and getting to learn under Belichick only figures to enhance his understanding of how to run an organization. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiPSVbf7N5o&ab_channel=Drift

Ryan Nielsen (Assistant HC/DL coach, New Orleans Saints)

People keep talking about Dennis Allen as the darling of the Saints' defensive rebound over the past few years. While he does deserve credit, a big part of that success is thanks to Nielsen's defensive front. How good has he been? New Orleans has had one guy top 10 sacks or more every year since 2017. He has since added assistant head coach to his responsibilities. A surefire sign of how much the Saints don't want to lose him. Evidenced by the fact he almost went to LSU this past offseason. Duce Staley (Assistant HC/RBs coach, Detroit Lions) It's actually a shock that Staley isn't a coordinator already. Or a head coach for that matter. He was revered as a team leader during his playing days in Philadelphia. Then he became an integral part of the coaching staff that won the Eagles their first Super Bowl in 2017. He has been an assistant head coach since 2018 and has done a solid job with the Lions running game despite the team not being very good. He's learned under both Andy Reid and Bill Cowher. So he understands how to craft a winning culture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fseWmgJx77w&ab_channel=DetroitLions

Edgar Bennett (WRs coach, Las Vegas Raiders)

Even during his playing days, Bennett was beloved in locker rooms for his leadership qualities. That is why he won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers in 1996. Then he came back and did it again as their running backs coach in 2010. It isn't a coincidence that players like Ryan Grant, Jordy Nelson, and Randall Cobb achieved career-bests under his guidance while there. Now he has done similar work with the likes of Hunter Renfrow in Las Vegas. Also, don't forget he spent two years in Chicago at the end of his career. Larry Foote (OLBs coach, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) A two-time Super Bowl champion linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers and now a Super Bowl champion linebackers coach for Tampa Bay. Winning seems to follow Foote wherever he goes. There is probably a reason for that. The man has high standards and outstanding leadership traits. His attention to detail was always apparent. Few things ever escaped his notice. What he's done for guys like Markus Golden, Chandler Jones, and Shaq Barrett over the past five years can be found on the stat sheets. He gets results.