Kevin Warren said GM Ryan Poles will make the final decision on the next Chicago Bears head coach. That isn't surprising since ownership made it clear football decisions were always his. However, it is beyond evident that Warren will play a central role in the process. Some believe the team president is the one really pulling the strings, and Poles is a figurehead at this point. Given how the recent press conference came off, one can understand that mindset. However, it's been made clear that isn't the case. This will be a two-man search jointly conducted by Warren and Poles.
While he won't strong-arm the GM into anything, Warren is ensuring his voice will be heard. Both men understand the gravity of their situation. This upcoming hire is arguably the most important in modern franchise history. They have a young quarterback who looks like a budding star and a roster ready to win. A leader is needed to bring it all together. A source revealed to SM that Warren has specific desires for the next head coach. The exact words used were a "proven head coach." It doesn't matter if he comes from the NFL or college ranks.
For those about to ask, the answer is yes. The team president is open to trading for somebody if the opportunity arises.
This aligns with how Kevin Warren came up in the NFL.
Since arriving in the league in 1997, he has watched the franchises he worked for prefer hiring head coaches with significant experience. Dick Vermeil was a former head coach for UCLA and Philadelphia when he took over the St. Louis Rams. Steve Mariucci had run the San Francisco 49ers through the late 1990s and early 2000s before arriving in Detroit. While Brad Childress and Mike Zimmer had never been head coaches, both had worked in the NFL for multiple decades before taking over the Minnesota Vikings.
It isn't surprising that Kevin Warren would prefer a similar approach. After all, it worked out for the most part. Vermeil won a Super Bowl, and Childress and Zimmer both reached conference title games. Poles is also reportedly open to the idea. He's reluctant to venture into the unknown after the massive misfire on Matt Eberflus. The GM is a big fan of interim head coach Thomas Brown. He is open to giving the young assistant a real shot at the job, but would prefer someone known if the Bears go elsewhere.
