Chicago Bears: The Great Bill O’Brien Debate
By Erik Lambert
It’s almost over. Another difficult Chicago Bears season in which they’ll boast a fourth-straight losing record is mercifully nearing an end.
John Fox, with his record sitting at 13-33 with two games to play almost assures his firing at the end of the year. Especially given the fact he’d be entering the last year of his contract otherwise. Lame duck coaches are like kryptonite for NFL teams. They repel good free agents and other hires because nobody likes to work with questionable job security. It’s hard to blame them.
Thus the question shifts to this January. If and when the Bears do fire Fox, who should they replace him with? There are plenty of names floating around from Josh McDaniels to Jim Harbaugh, Frank Reich, David Shaw and Todd Haley among others. However, a new name has surfaced as a possibility. That being Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien.
O’Brien also in danger of entering lame duck status
The situation surrounding O’Brien is a chaotic one. He’s managed to get the Texans to the playoffs two years in a row but failed to get beyond the divisional round both times. There is no doubting he has done great work with the quarterbacks. Many are anxious to see what he might be able to do with a healthy Deshaun Watson for a full season after the two went on a tear earlier this season with 19 touchdown passes.
It’s difficult to ascertain where he stands. If the Texans were completely sold on him, they would’ve extended him already. At 4-9 though they’re left wondering whether they might be able to do better. Injuries of course are a huge factor but they’ve lost five games decided by one score. So it’s not like they haven’t had their chances despite the setbacks.
Thus the conundrum for the Bears is this. If the Texans decide to part ways with O’Brien, do they look to grab him? It’s hard to ignore his offensive background. O’Brien is one of the best play callers in the league. Watson and Tom Brady can attest to that. It’s not hard to think he’d be able to do so much in helping Trubisky become the quarterback he should be.
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At the same time O’Brien would be another retread coaching hire, and everybody knows how swell things just went down that path with Fox. Nothing is certain. Still, if he does become available it might be awfully tough not to pick up that phone if you’re Ryan Pace.