Breer: Bears may not focus on QB guru for next coach originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
If the Bears fire Matt Nagy on Monday, as is widely expected, their search for a new head coach might not be as cut and dry as you imagine. The future of the franchise truly rests on whether Justin Fields develops into a quarterback worthy of trading up to draft with the No. 11 overall pick. To ensure that happens, it would make sense for the front office to hire another offensive-minded coach with a track record of grooming young talent. But in his “Black Monday” preview, Albert Breer writes that may not be the case at Halas Hall.
“I’ve heard they won’t be focused solely on quarterback-developers like they were when they landed Nagy in 2018, with their focus likely on leader-of-men types,” Breer wrote. “It’s also worth noting that owner George McCaskey has been very involved in the NFL’s diversity efforts, and the league has been bullish on the candidacy of Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Frazier, a star corner on the vaunted 1985 Bears defense, has been raised to me repeatedly in regards to Buffalo’s plans.”
Breer also listed some lesser-known names that could surface in a Bears head coaching search.
“I’ve heard a few younger candidates that project as leaders, like Patriots LBs coach Jerod Mayo and Colts DC Matt Eberflus, will be in the mix, too. (Obviously, for these types, a plan for developing Justin Fields will be important.)”
It’s not surprising the Bears value a “leader of men” in their next head coach. That has been Nagy’s best quality over his tenure in Chicago. That quality also helped prevent the Bears from bottoming out as one of the worst teams in the league over the past two seasons. Perhaps it’s a lesson learned from the Marc Trestman experience, as Trestman’s noted lack of respect in the locker room led the Bears to becoming a sideshow in the NFL.
But as Breer noted, no matter who leads the Bears moving forward, the plan to develop Fields into a superstar will be paramount.
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