Anyone with common sense knew that Kevin Warren would significantly influence the looming search for the next Chicago Bears head coach. Despite recent assurances that Ryan Poles would be the point man, he holds the real power inside Halas Hall. Warren has 30 years worth of connections around the league and his own thoughts about what type of coach the Bears should prioritize. The two most recent candidates to surface reflect this. First was Vance Joseph, the defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos.
His unit has been one of the NFL's best this season, ranking 7th in total yards and 3rd in points allowed. He also has head coaching experience from two years in Denver, something Warren's previous teams seemed to favor going back decades. The other name is Drew Petzing, the offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals. This season, he significantly improved his unit, ranking 11th and 12th in yards and points, respectively. He also knows Warren. The two worked together for six seasons in Minnesota.
Kevin Warren seems focused on one of two options.
He either wants an experienced former head coach, likely from a defensive background, or he wants a young offensive mind who can hopefully develop Caleb Williams. Joseph checks the first box. His two years in Denver as head coach were rough, but that wasn't entirely his fault. The team was already heading towards a rebuild before he arrived and had no quarterback on the roster. They drafted pretty well during his brief stint, indicating he had an eye for talent. Petzing seems to have helped Kyler Murray rebound from his ongoing dip the previous two years, improving his efficiency. The real standout has been the running game, which was 4th last year and 7th this year. The Bears were 25th. Kevin Warren wanting to speak with them is understandable. Does either have a reasonable shot at the job? Probably not, but it's worth watching.
