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Chicago Bears: 5 Biggest Regrets from the Past Decade

By Erik Lambert

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 15: Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker of the Chicago Bears on the field during pregame warm ups before a game against the New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field on December 15, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Brian Kersey/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 15: Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker of the Chicago Bears on the field during pregame warm ups before a game against the New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field on December 15, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Brian Kersey/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 26: Shea McClellin (R) of Boise State holds up a jersey as he stands on stage with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after he was selected #19 overall by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 26, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 26: Shea McClellin (R) of Boise State holds up a jersey as he stands on stage with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after he was selected #19 overall by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 26, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

#1:  Drafting Shea McClellin

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If ever there was a warning shot that a general manager should not have been hired, this was it. Phil Emery was basically thrown a weak fastball right down the pipe at the #19 pick in the draft. His defense needed a pass rusher to compliment the aging Julius Peppers. The consensus best man on the board was Syracuse defensive end, Chandler Jones. All Emery had to do was not screw it up.

Then he did just that when he baffled the NFL world by selecting Boise State defensive lineman Shea McClellin. Nobody could understand. McClellin was more of a hybrid linebacker type who could move around. He wasn’t the best fit to be a 4-3 defensive end whereas Jones had played that exact position in college. Two picks later the Patriots traded up to get him.

McClellin became a disappointment and the Bears defense fell apart shortly after. Jones became one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Would Phil Emery still have a job if he hadn’t flubbed that pick? Would the Bears have made the playoffs that year and saved Lovie Smith from being fired? There are so many what-ifs that emanate from that single moment in April of 2012.

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