The Chicago Bears GM-Coach Combo That Could Save The Day

Ernie Accorsi is out to help the Chicago Bears put together a winning GM-head coach combination.  Here is one that he’d have a hard time topping.

Head Coach:  Rex Ryan

How perfect is would the personality fit Chicago?  Admit it.  Windy City fans would fall in love with Rex Ryan because he’s a character, and few cities love characters more.  Ask Mike Ditka.  However, it goes beyond that for Ryan.  He’s a legacy in Chicago since his father won a Super Bowl as defensive coordinator and more importantly he has a long track record of success as a coach.

This is especially true for the defensive side of the ball.  Since 2005 when he was defensive coordinator in Baltimore all the way through his final year as head coach of the Jets, his defenses have never finished lower than 11th.  That man, just like his father, is a savant when it comes to slowing modern offenses down.  He has confidence and swagger and it’s clear that his players play hard for him.

These are all things the Bears were missing under Marc Trestman and are desperate to get back.  The key with Ryan will be whether he can find a solid offensive coaching staff but also a GM who knows how to keep the cupboard filled with good talent because Ryan has proven he can win when he has it.

General Manager:  Vince Newsome

Seeing the last name might evoke ideas of immediate genetic relation to widely-respected Baltimore Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome, but in fact Vince Newsome is not any sort of family to the man.  The ironic part is they’ve both been around each other for years.  Vince joined the Cleveland Browns late in his playing career in 1991, a year after Ozzie retired and joined the organization as a scout and front office addition.  Not long after that, Vince also joined the scouting ring.

Not only is the man a former player but he’s been exposed to some of the best coaching and management personalities in the NFL.  Ernie Accorsi, currently leading the Bears GM search, was in charge of the Browns the final two years Newsome played.  Then after Accorsi left, Cleveland brought in both Bill Belichick and Nick Saban, two of the great coaches in modern football and also tremendous talent evaluators.  Vince soon moved with the team to Baltimore where he worked his way up the ranks, eventually becoming director of player personnel under Ozzie, who has been GM for over a decade.

He knows all the inner workings of a franchise from bottom to top and has demonstrated an eye not just for player talent but coaches as well.  He was involved in the hiring process of John Harbaugh.  So why would he make such a great combination with Rex?

First and foremost they know each other well.  Ryan was defensive coordinator in Baltimore for three years.  Newsome knows exactly the kinds of players who would succeed in his defense but beyond that a clear understanding of the kind of offensive personnel it would take to help maximize those defenses.

The best GM and head coach combinations tend to be ones who are familiar and comfortable with each other.  With Ryan handling the cameras and the personalities and Newsome handling the talent, the Bears could rebound in a big way.