The Chicago Bears reportedly made a run at trading for longtime Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. It shouldn't be a surprise. He's one of the most accomplished head coaches in the NFL, with no losing seasons in 17 years. His no-nonsense, disciplinary style feels like something the Bears need for their locker room. Unsurprisingly, the attempt was rebuffed. Pittsburgh has no intention of letting Tomlin go, and he doesn't seem interested in leaving. It is a safe assumption that was the answer GM Ryan Poles and team president Kevin Warren expected.
Nobody can blame them for at least making the phone call. There's always the chance Pittsburgh said yes. However, acquiring Tomlin wasn't the only reason the Bears did that. It was also to send a message. Tomlin recently signed a three-year contract extension, paying him $16 million per year, the third-most in the NFL. It feels like Poles and Warren intended to send a message that the supposed reputation that the Bears are cheap when paying coaches no longer applies. They're willing to spend for the right guy.
Mike Tomlin pursuit proves it's not about money anymore.
Coaches are no different from players. They want to get paid, too, and the best ones usually know what they're worth. This is why reports suggest that Ben Johnson is looking for a lucrative deal that will cost around $15 million per year. That might seem excessive for a first-time coach, but he knows how in-demand his services are. Somebody will be willing to pay him. It appears for the first time in forvthat er, the Bears are fully prepared to be one of those teams. ESPN reported last week that a shift had occurred inside Halas Hall with the intent of no longer making money an issue.
It is all about getting the best people.
This is a refreshing revelation for Chicago Bears fans. For decades, they've heard accusations of their team being too cheap. Much of that was based in reality, thanks to George Halas, who was notorious for pinching pennies wherever he could. However, in recent years, the McCaskeys have shown a willingness to open up the checkbook when necessary. It just never quite got to the point where head coaches were considered worth the expense, at least not first-time ones. That could be about to change.
