One Big Factor That May Impact A Kevin Warren Coaching Change

Albert Breer of the MMQB revealed in a recent column that there is a strong possibility Chicago Bears president Kevin Warren could enact major changes to the football operations next off-season. One of them is likely a change at head coach unless Matt Eberflus can put together some kind of win streak over the final seven games. Warren had no influence in his hiring, so he's not as loyal as GM Ryan Poles might be. The more interesting question is what happens if and when Eberflus is out of the picture.

Presuming Warren is more involved in football operations, it isn't a stretch to think he will seek coaches he may have good information on. Poles wanted Eberflus because the two had a relationship that began years before they came together in Chicago. In these circumstances, looking at the background of the man making the decisions is essential. This is where the situation gets interesting. If Warren follows a similar path, the Bears might hire their first head coach directly from the college ranks in the Super Bowl era.

The most recent Kevin Warren connections are all in college.

He left the NFL in 2019 to become commissioner of the Big Ten conference. Over the next four years, all his time was spent networking with various programs across the country. Not only did he have regular contact with teams in the Big Ten itself, but he also had negotiations with places like USC and UCLA. This gives Warren some direct ties to quite a few prominent names.

Jim Harbaugh is the most obvious. He's been at Michigan since 2015 and has turned it into a powerhouse. Before that, he led the 49ers to three NFC championship games. There is also Ryan Day, a top offensive mind who's done good work at Ohio State. Lincoln Riley has a similar reputation at USC and has been rumored for an NFL jump going back years. One also can't forget Kirby Smart, the two-time defending champion leader at Georgia.

If Kevin Warren wants to lean into his network and make a splash, grabbing a top college coach would be one way to do it. There is no doubting the gamble it would be. Recent ventures into the college ranks led to guys like Urban Meyer, Matt Rhule, Kliff Kingsbury, Chip Kelly, and Greg Schiano. All ranged from disappointments to outright disasters.