Chicago Bears Fans Need To Get On Board Charlie Weis Train

Sep 13, 2014; Durham, NC, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Charlie Weis on the sidelines against the Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports

Landing Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator can be identified as a coup for head coach John Fox as he makes over the Chicago Bears coaching staff.  Not only is he experienced but he’s also proven, producing some of the best defenses in the NFL over the past five years.  Players love him.  He’s honest, experienced and basic in his devising of scheme.  When it comes to defensive football, those are all huge pluses.

However, the job is not over for Fox.  He still needs to find a capable offensive coordinator to help either get the most out of Jay Cutler or determine he’s not worth the effort and ship him out.

A number of high profile names have already passed through the rumor mill including Adam Gase, who coached with Fox in Denver as well as Rob Chudzinski, Kyle Shanahan, and Mike Mularkey.  It was one name thought that set off a bit of a social media firestorm when Charlie Weis was spotted at Halas Hall.

Nowadays football fans only remember Weis as the former head coach at Notre Dame, during which time he amassed a pedestrian 35-27 record and lost both a Fiesta Bowl and Sugar Bowl in back-to-back years.  Irish fans still seem to have nightmares about it, but the fact remains it has no bearing on the here and now.

Why?

Charlie Weis has a far different track record as an offensive coordinator in the NFL, a position he has held a total of nine years.  During that span his teams have posted a record of .500 or better eight times, made the playoffs five times and won three Super Bowls.  He has had success with a wide range of quarterbacks including Neil O’Donnell, Vinny Testaverde and Matt Cassel.  Of course he gets the most credit for helping turn Tom Brady, a former 6th round draft pick into a future Hall of Famer and three-time champion.

On top of all that, he runs the style of offense that fits Chicago Bears football.  He loves to run the ball and use play action to go down the field.  Sometimes it can result in low rankings for his units, but the number of victories is hard to argue with because he did it with three different teams.

If ever there was a coordinator who fit a city and style, Charlie Weis is that guy and John Fox is brilliant for considering him.