Chicago Bears: Vital Key to Copying the Eagles Model

One thing about the Chicago Bears coaching decisions over the past couple decades is they almost always miss a critical part of the process.

Something that has brought the Rooney family so much success in their head coaching searches over the years is a clearly defined idea of what they want. Namely a tough, hard-nosed guy who fits the identity of Pittsburgh. That’s a big reason why Mike Ditka was such a success for the Bears in the 1980s. He embodied toughness, ferocity and attitude. That’s what Chicago wants from its football teams. They want to make the opponents suffer.

More than that though is another key that Ditka brought that people missed. He already had a prior understand of the Bear Way. He was a Bears guy. The team drafted him as a tight end in 1961 and he spent his best years in Chicago. So by the time he returned as coach in 1982, he knew exactly the sort of team the city expected.

Now look at the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s not a coincidence Doug Pederson was their choice. The guy has green blood in his veins. He played for the team in 1999 and was an assistant for them from 2009 to 2013. By that point, like Ditka, he knew the fans, the city and the ownership. It was a strong choice.

Chicago needs to find a “Bears guy” who understands the city

Marc Trestman and John Fox? These were not true Bears guys. They didn’t bring the sort of attitudes or styles that fit this town. Lovie Smith, though he never coached for the organization came from a background that meshed well. This is what GM Ryan Pace has to keep in mind going forward with his next hire. Not only does it have to be somebody he connects with, but also someone who fits the mold of what the city envisions their head coach to be.

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There are coaches out there with Bears ties who might be worth a look. Dave Toub is still awaiting his chance in Kansas City. Todd Haley has done great things with Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh. Pete Carmichael has ties to the organization and to Pace. Harold Goodwin was with them during the Super Bowl run and has coordinated the Arizona Cardinals offense successfully for years.

There are options out there. It’s a matter of seeking out the right one. This is something the Bears can’t afford to get cute about anymore.